OFFICERS' Pulse
SEPTEMBER, 2020
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CURRENT AFFAIRS Monthly THE PULSE OF UPSC AT YOUR FINGER TIPS. 1
Contents
Schemes ...... 3 Economy ...... 27 1) FAME scheme ...... 3 1) Index of Eight Core Industries ...... 27 2) Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha 2) Wholesale Price Index ...... 27 Abhiyan ...... 3 3) Consumer Price Index (CPI) ...... 27 3) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen 4) State Development Loans ...... 28 Kaushal Yojana ...... 4 5) CAG Report ...... 28 4) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram ...... 4 6) NABARD ...... 29 5) Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har 7) Cess ...... 29 Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) ...... 7 8) Trade surplus ...... 30 6) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada 9) E-Way Bill ...... 31 Yojana ...... 8 10) Exchange Traded Funds ...... 32 7) RoDTEP scheme ...... 9 11) GDP growth at -23.9% in Q1 ...... 32 Initiatives ...... 10 12) New Priority Sector lending 1) POSHAN Abhiyaan ...... 10 norms ...... 34 2) Aspirational Districts Programme 10 Organisations ...... 36 3) Mission Karmayogi ...... 11 1) International Criminal Court ...... 36 4) e-Gram Swaraj Portal ...... 12 2) International Commission of Jurists37 5) One Nation One Ration Card ...... 12 3) Association of World Election 6) Ambedkar Social Innovation and Bodies ...... 37 Incubation Mission ...... 13 Science and Technology ...... 39 7) Ministry of Housing and Urban 1) Blockchain technology and Voting 39 Affairs Initiatives ...... 14 2) Gopalakrishnan committee report Environment ...... 15 on non-personal data ...... 40 1) Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD) ... 15 3) Hypersonic Technology 2) Mission Lantana ...... 15 Demonstrator Vehicle ...... 42 3) G20 Initiatives ...... 16 4) BrahMos missile ...... 43 4) El Nino and La Nina’s impact on 5) Scrub Typhus Attack ...... 43 Indian Monsoon ...... 19 6) Astrosat...... 43 5) Global Biodiversity Outlook ...... 20 7) Mars Orbiter Mission ...... 44 Agriculture ...... 23 8) Cyanobacteria behind elephants 1) Pusa Decomposer ...... 23 death ...... 45 2) Zero Budget Natural Farming ...... 24 9) Cloud computing for better flood inundation mapping ...... 45 3) STRATEGIES TO BOOST INDIA’S GLOBAL AGRICULTURE TRADE ...... 25 10) Venus and life...... 46
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Reports and Indices ...... 48 9) Foreign Contribution (Regulation) 1) State Startup Ranking 2019 ...... 48 Amendment Act, 2020 ...... 59 2) Digital Education Divide ...... 48 International Relations ...... 61 3) Global Innovation Index ...... 49 1) Singapore Convention on Mediation ...... 61 4) Living Planet Report 2020 ...... 50 2) India, France, Australia hold first Polity ...... 52 trilateral dialogue ...... 61 1) National Human Rights 3) Supply Chain Resilience Initiative 63 Commission ...... 52 Art and Culture ...... 65 2) No-confidence motion...... 53 1) Channapatna toys ...... 65 3) National Medical Commission Act, 2019 ...... 53 2) Kakatiya Dynasty ...... 65 4) Members of Parliament Local Area 3) Vallam Kali of Kerala ...... 66 Development Scheme ...... 54 4) Renati Chola Inscription ...... 66 5) Enemy Property ...... 56 Miscellaneous ...... 68 6) Question Hour and Zero Hour ...... 57 1) Sir M Visvesvaraya ...... 68 7) Armed Forces Special Powers Act . 58 2) Aligarh Muslim University ...... 68 8) Supplementary grants ...... 58
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Schemes 1) FAME scheme Encourage faster adoption of electric About the Scheme and hybrid vehicles by way of offering The National Electric Mobility upfront Incentive on purchase of Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 is a Electric vehicles. National Mission document providing Establishing necessary charging the vision and the roadmap for the Infrastructure for electric vehicles. faster adoption of electric vehicles and To address the issue of their manufacturing in the country. environmental pollution and fuel As part of the NEMMP 2020, the security. Department of Heavy Industry Why in News? (under the Ministry of Heavy The Government has sanctioned 670 Industries & Public Enterprises) Electric buses in the states of formulated a Scheme viz. Faster Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Adoption and Manufacturing of Chandigarh and 241 Charging Stations (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, (FAME India) Scheme in 2015. Kerala, Gujarat and Port Blair under The objective of the FAME India Phase-II of FAME India Scheme. scheme is to promote manufacturing of electric and hybrid vehicle 2) Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha technology and to ensure Abhiyan sustainable growth of the same. About the Scheme Phase-I Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan The Phase-I of this Scheme was (RUSA) is a Centrally Sponsored initially launched for a period of 2 Scheme which aims at providing years, commencing from 1st April strategic funding to eligible state 2015, which was subsequently higher educational institutions. extended up to 31st March 2019. The Ministry of Education is the The 1st Phase of FAME India Scheme nodal agency administering the was implemented through four focus program. areas namely (i) Demand Creation, (ii) Funding Technology Platform, (iii) Pilot Project The Central Funding (in the ratio of and (iv) Charging Infrastructure. 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Sikkim, Phase-II Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Phase-II of FAME India Scheme is being Pradesh and Uttarakhand and 65:35 implemented for a period of 3 years for Other States and UTs) would be w.e.f. 01st April, 2019. norm based and outcome This phase focuses on supporting dependent. electrification of public & shared The Funding would flow from the transportation and aims to support, Central Ministry through the State through subsidies, approximately 7000 Governments/ Union Territories to the e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e- State Higher Education Councils before 4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakh reaching the identified Institutions. e-2 Wheelers. The Funding to States would be made In addition, creation of charging on the basis of critical appraisal of infrastructure is also supported for State Higher Education Plans, which electric vehicles. would describe each State's strategy to Key Objectives
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address issues of equity, access and Cities and Start-Up India, Stand-Up excellence in Higher Education. India campaigns. Vision Beneficiaries To attain higher levels of access, equity DDU-GKY is uniquely focused on rural and excellence in the State higher youth between the ages of 15 and 35 education system with greater years from poor families. efficiency, transparency, accountability There are several challenges and responsiveness. preventing India’s rural poor from With the assistance under RUSA competing in the modern market, such Scheme, the state envisions an increase as the lack of formal education and in the Gross Enrolment Ratio [G.E.R.], marketable skills. quality, access and equity in higher DDU-GKY bridges this gap by funding education and to build a system that is training projects benchmarked to not only responsible for producing global standards, with an emphasis on bright minds but can also support placement, retention, career sophisticated research in a number of progression and foreign placement. scientific and scholarly fields. Implementation Model Priorities and Strategies DDU-GKY follows a 3-tier The priorities of the state are: implementation model. 1. Quality Assurance The DDU-GKY National Unit at MoRD 2. Access and Equity functions as the policy-making, 3. Infrastructure Development technical support and facilitation 4. Faculty Recruitment agency. The DDU-GKY State Missions 5. Research and innovation provide implementation support; and Why in News? the Project Implementing Agencies The second phase of the Rashtriya (PIAs) implement the programme Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan has been through skilling and placement given extension till 31st March 2021 or projects. till the date the recommendations of Why in News? 15th Finance Commission come into The Ministry of Rural Development effect, whichever is earlier. celebrated the foundation day of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya 3) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Yojana. Kaushal Yojana Under DDU-GKY, 10.51 lakh rural About DDUGKY youth have been trained and 6.65 lakh The Ministry of Rural Development successfully placed so far. (MoRD) launched the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana 4) Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas (DDU-GKY) Antyodaya Diwas in 2014. Karyakram DDU-GKY is tasked with the dual About the Scheme objectives of adding diversity to the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram incomes of rural poor families and (PMJVK) seeks to provide better socio caters to the career aspirations of economic infrastructure facilities to rural youth. the minority communities which As a part of the Skill India campaign, would further lead to lessening of the it plays an instrumental role in gap between the national average and supporting the social and economic the minority communities with regard programs of the government like the to backwardness parameters. Make in India, Digital India, Smart
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Under PMJVK, 80% of the resources Other Schemes for Minorities would be utilized for projects related implemented by the Ministry of to education, health and skill Minority Affairs development of which at least 33- Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn) 40% will be earmarked for creation of It is a 100% Central Sector Scheme assets/facilities for women/girls. implemented since 2013-14 for skill The erstwhile Multi-sectoral development of minorities. Development Programme (MsDP) Implemented by the Ministry of has been restructured and renamed as Minority affairs, the scheme aims at Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram upgrading the skills of minority youth for effective implementation since in various modern/traditional skills 2018. depending upon their qualification, The areas under PMJVK, have been present economic trends and market identified on the basis of minority potential, which can earn them suitable population and socio-economic and employment or make them suitably basic amenities data of Census 2011. skilled to go for self-employment. These areas will be known as Minority The scheme is implemented through Concentration Areas. selected expert Project Implementing It will reduce the imbalances in the Agencies (PIAs). identified minority concentration areas The scheme ensures placements of to be at par with the rest of the minimum 75% trainees, out of which country. at least 50% placement is in the Note: Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, organized sector. Buddhists, Jain and Zorastrians Eligible Trainees/beneficiaries (Parsis) have been notified as minority The trainee should belong to a communities under the National minority community. Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. The trainee should be between 14-35 Backwardness parameters for minority years of age. concentration areas The minimum qualification of trainees Religion-specific socio-economic should be at least Class V. indicators at the district level: USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and A. Literacy rate Training in Traditional Arts/ Crafts B. Female literacy rate for Development) C. Work participation rate The Scheme was launched in 2015 to D. Female work participation rate preserve the rich heritage of Basic amenities indicators at the traditional arts/crafts of minorities. district level: It is a 100% centrally sponsored a) Percentage of households with scheme implemented by the Ministry pucca walls’ of Minority affairs. b) Percentage of households with safe The scheme aims at drinking water; and a) Capacity building and updating the c) Percentage of households with traditional skills of master electricity. craftsmen/artisans Why in News? b) Documentation of identified traditional Union Minister of Minority Affairs said arts/crafts of minorities; set standards that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas for traditional skills Karyakram is being implemented in c) Training of minority youths in various 1300 identified Minority Concentration identified traditional arts/crafts Areas in the country. through master craftsmen; and
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d) Develop national and international eligible for the programme but they market linkages. will not occupy more than 5% of the Eligible Trainees/beneficiaries total seats. The trainee should belong to a The trainee should be between 17-35 minority community. However, to years of age. promote inter-community solidarity, Certain pockets of minority population 25% candidates belonging to BPL within a non-minority district or city families of non-minority are also eligible. communities may also be considered. The trainees should belong to the In addition, 3% seats will also be Below Poverty Line (BPL) reserved for differently abled population both from urban and rural persons belonging to minority areas. communities. 30% of the beneficiary seats will be The trainee should be between 14-35 earmarked for girl / women years of age. Upper age limit may be candidates and 5% of the beneficiary relaxed for differently abled persons seats will be earmarked for persons belonging to minorities. with disability belonging to the The minimum qualification of a trainee minority community under the should be at least Class V. This may scheme. also be relaxed for differently abled Nai Roshni persons belonging to minorities. Launched in 2012, the Nai Roshni More than one member of a family is scheme aims to empower and instil eligible for training in the same confidence among minority women art/craft form, provided she/he fulfills by providing knowledge, tools and the eligibility criteria. techniques for interacting with Nai Manzil Government systems, Banks and other Launched in 2015, it aims to provide institutions at all levels. education and skill training to the The scheme is implemented through youth from Minority Communities. Non-Governmental Organizations It aims to benefit the minority youth (NGOs), Civil societies and who do not have a formal school Government Institutions all over the leaving certificate i.e. those in the country. category of school dropouts or It includes various training modules educated in the community education like Leadership of women, Educational institutions like Madrasas, in order to Programmes, Health and Hygiene, provide them formal education and Swachch Bharat, Financial Literacy, skills, and enable them to seek better Life Skills, Legal Rights of Women, employment in the organized sector Digital Literacy and Advocacy for and thus to equip them for better lives. Social and behavioural change. Trainees/Beneficiaries Hamari Dharohar The trainee should belong to the This is a 100% Central Sector Scheme Minority community as notified under which aims to preserve the rich National Commission for Minorities heritage of minority communities of Act 1992 (viz. Muslims, Christians, India under the overall concept of Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis). Indian culture. In the States/UTs where some other It is implemented by the Ministry of minority communities notified by Minority Affairs directly through respective State/UT Governments selected Project Implementing exist, they may also be considered Agencies (PIAs).
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Objectives The Ministry of Minority Affairs is To curate rich heritage of minorities the implementing agency and only under the overall concept of Indian candidates belonging to notified Culture Minority Communities who clear the Curating exhibitions Prelim examinations conducted by Preservation of literature/ documents, UPSC; SPSC or SSC etc. and fulfill all etc. other eligibility criteria and conditions Support and promotion of calligraphy, will be considered for financial support etc. under the scheme. Research and Development. Jiyo Parsi Maulana Azad National Fellowship It is a Central Sector Scheme for Scheme for Minority Students containing population decline of It was launched in 2008 for students Parsis in India by adopting scientific belonging to the minority protocol and structured interventions. communities. It was launched in 2013 by the Its objective is to provide integrated Ministry of Minority Affairs. five year fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students from 5) Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har minority communities to pursue Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) higher studies such as M. Phil and Ph.D About the scheme in Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar and Engineering & Technology. Yojana –“Saubhagya” is a scheme Naya Sawera under the Ministry of Power to Naya Savera aims to provide free ensure electrification of all willing coaching to students/candidates households in the country. belonging to minority communities for The scheme was launched in 2017. qualifying in entrance examinations of Background technical/ professional courses and A government announcement in 2018 Competitive examinations. that the last unconnected Indian village Padho Pardesh of Leisang in Manipur had been It is a Central Sector Scheme which connected to the grid, drew a lot of provides interest subsidy to students debate on the official definition of of minority communities on rural electrification in India. educational loans for overseas Critics pointed out that quite a large higher studies. number of Indian households are still The interest subsidy under the scheme without electricity, despite the 100 per shall be available to the eligible cent rural electrification claim, due to students only once, either for Masters, lack of last-mile infrastructure and M.Phil. or Ph.D. levels. affordability. 35% seats will be earmarked for girl Earlier rural electrification schemes students. such as the ‘Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nai Udaan Gram Jyoti Yojana’ considered a village It aims to provide financial support to ‘electrified’ even if it has the basic the minority candidates who clear electrical infrastructure and 10% of the preliminary examinations its households, as well as public conducted by the Union Public Service places viz schools, hospitals are Commission, Staff Selection connected. Commission and State Public Service However, this definition had left out Commission. many Indian households from getting
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access to electricity. The Saubhagya 6) Pradhan Mantri Kisan scheme’s main intent was to fill this Sampada Yojana gap. About PMKSY Objective The Ministry of Food Processing To provide energy access to all by last Industries has been implementing the mile connectivity and electricity Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA connections to all remaining un- Yojana (PMKSY) since 2017. electrified households in rural as well SAMPADA (Scheme for Agro-Marine as urban areas to achieve universal Processing and Development of Agro- household electrification in the Processing Clusters) is a country. comprehensive package which aims to Rural Electrification Corporation create modern infrastructure with (REC) has been designated as nodal efficient supply chain management agency for the Saubhagya scheme. from farm gate to retail outlet. The electricity connection to It aims to provide a big boost to the households include release of growth of the food processing sector in electricity connections by drawing a the country and also help in providing service cable from the nearest pole to better returns to farmers, reducing the household premise, installation of wastage of agricultural produce, an energy meter, wiring for a single increasing the processing level and light point with LED bulb and a mobile enhancing the export of the processed charging point. foods. In case the electricity pole is not Under PMKSY the following schemes available nearby from the household are to be implemented. for drawing service cable, the erection a) Mega Food Parks of additional pole along with conductor b) Integrated Cold Chain, Value and associated accessories shall also be Addition and Preservation covered under the scheme. Infrastructure Eligibility c) Creation/Expansion of Food The prospective beneficiary Processing/Preservation Capacities households for free electricity d) Infrastructure for Agro Processing connections under the scheme would Clusters be identified using SECC 2011 data. e) Scheme for Creation of Backward However, un-electrified households and Forward Linkages not covered under SECC data would f) Food Safety & Quality Assurance also be provided electricity Infrastructure connections under the scheme on g) Human Resources and Institutions payment of Rs. 500 which shall be Objectives of PMKSY recovered by DISCOMs in 10 Creation of modern infrastructure for instalments through electricity bill. food processing mega food parks/ Why in News? clusters and individual units Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar To create effective backward and Yojana -“Saubhagya” has completed forward linkages - linking farmers, three years since its inception. processors and markets As many as over 2 crore 62 lakh To create robust supply chain households have been provided infrastructure for perishables electricity connection so far under the Why in News? Saubhagya scheme. The Central government has given permission to 27 projects under the
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Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana To address these issues, the for development of integrated cold government introduced the Remission chains and value addition of Duties and Taxes on Exported infrastructure in the country. Products (RoDTEP) scheme with a view to give a boost to the country’s 7) RoDTEP scheme outbound shipments. About Merchandise export from India The government announced that scheme whatever taxes, or duties or local levies Merchandise Exports from India imposed by the Centre, State or local Scheme (MEIS) was introduced under governments that are not getting Foreign Trade Policy of India (FTP refunded through any other scheme, 2015-20), as a part of Exports from will be done through RoDTEP in a way India Scheme. that is compliant with the WTO The scheme provides incentive in the norms. form of duty credit scrip to exporters It is proposed to digitally refund to to compensate for their losses on exporters, duties and taxes levied at payment of duties. The scrips can be the Centre, State and local levels. transferred or used for payment of a The RoDTEP scheme will replace the number of duties including the basic Merchandise Export from India customs duty. Scheme in a phased manner. What is the issue? Why in News? In 2019, a WTO dispute resolution The government has recently capped panel ruled that MEIS was not in export incentives under the compliance with the global trade Merchandise Export from India norms. Scheme at Rs 2 crore per exporter on Additionally, many exporters had outbound shipments made during the persistently complained that the MEIS period from September 1 to December scheme doesn’t offset all the taxes. 31, 2020. RoDTEP scheme In addition, it has been notified that the MEIS scheme is withdrawn with effect from January 1, 2021.
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Initiatives 1) POSHAN Abhiyaan Poshan Maah About the scheme To ensure community mobilisation and POSHAN Abhiyaan (also known as bolster people’s participation, every National Nutrition Mission) is a year the month of September is flagship programme of the Ministry of celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah Women and Child Development that under POSHAN Abhiyaan across the aims to improve nutrition amongst country. children, pregnant women, and The activities in the Poshan maah are lactating mothers. focussed on Social Behavioural Launched in 2018, it is a multi- Change and Counselling (SBCC). The ministerial convergence mission with broad themes are: antenatal care, the vision to ensure attainment of optimal breastfeeding (early and malnutrition free India by 2022. exclusive), complementary feeding, The mission targets to reduce anaemia, growth monitoring, girls’ stunting, under-nutrition, anemia education, diet, right age of marriage, (among young children, women and hygiene, and sanitation, eating healthy adolescent girls) and reduce low birth and food fortification. weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per Why in News? annum respectively. The 3rd Rashtriya Poshan Maah was The mission also strives to achieve a celebrated during September 2020 to reduction in Stunting from 38.4% address the problem of malnutrition in (NFHS-4) to 25% by 2022 (Mission 25 women and children. by 2022). Significance 2) Aspirational Districts Amongst India’s most serious yet Programme marginally addressed development About the programme challenges is malnutrition, which Launched in January 2018, the contributes significantly to the Aspirational Districts Programme country’s disease burden. (ADP) is one of the largest experiments Even as National Family Health on outcomes-focused governance in Survey 2015-16 (NFHS-4) data shows the world. that the country’s malnutrition rates The ADP is NITI Aayog’s flagship have gone down, half of all children initiative to uplift those backward from families in the lowest income 115 districts that are lagging behind quintile are still stunted (51 percent) in specific development parameters or underweight (49 percent). of health and nutrition, education, Today, India is home to the largest agriculture and water resources, number of stunted children (46.6 financial inclusion, skill development, million) and wasted children (25.5 and basic infrastructure. million) in the world. More than a Core Strategy third of children under five suffer The broad contours of the programme from stunting and wasting and 40% are Convergence (of Central & State of children between one and four Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, are anaemic. State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District According to the NFHS-4, over 50% of Collectors), and Competition among pregnant and non-pregnant women districts driven by a spirit of mass were found to be anaemic. Movement.
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With States as the main drivers, this aspirational districts based on 49 program will focus on the strength of indicators (81 data-points) from the 5 each district, identify low-hanging identified thematic areas. fruits for immediate improvement, Districts are aspiring to first catch-up measure progress, and rank districts. with the best district within their State, Selection of districts and subsequently aspire to become 115 districts were identified using a one of the best in the country, by composite index of key data sets that competing with, and learning from included deprivation enumerated others in the spirit of competitive & under the Socio-Economic Caste cooperative federalism. Census, key health and education Why in News? sector performance and state of basic Recently, Micro, Small and Medium infrastructure. Enterprises Minister Nitin Gadkari Institutional framework emphasised upon improving MSME NITI Aayog anchors the programme footprint in 115 aspirational districts. with support from Central Ministries He said, their contribution to GDP is and the State Governments. presently negligible, but if focused While NITI Aayog is steering the attention is given to them, they can initiative in 30 districts, various central uplift the employment scene in a big ministries oversee 50 districts besides way. the Ministry of Home Affairs, which focuses on 35 Left Wing Extremism 3) Mission Karmayogi (LWE) affected districts. About the programme Officers at the level of Joint Secretary / Mission Karmayogi is a nationwide Additional Secretary have been programme to lay the foundation for nominated to become the ‘Central capacity building of civil servants. It Prabhari Officers’ of each district. will help the officers to learn about the States have appointed state-nodal and best practices across the world. Prabhari officers. Officially called the "National An Empowered Committee under the Programme for Civil Services Convenorship of the CEO, NITI Aayog Capacity Building (NPCSCB)", the will help in the convergence of various mission plans to transform human government schemes and streamlining resource management in the of efforts. country. Focus Areas Mission Karmayogi aims to prepare the To enable optimum utilization of their Indian civil servant for the future by potential, this program focuses closely making him more creative, on improving people’s ability to constructive, imaginative, innovative, participate fully in the vibrant proactive, professional, progressive, economy. energetic, enabling, transparent and Health & Nutrition, Education, technology-enabled. Agriculture & Water Resources, The fundamental focus of the reform is Financial Inclusion & Skill the creation of a ‘citizen centric civil Development, and Basic Infrastructure service’ capable of creating and are this programme’s core areas of delivering services conducive to focus. economic growth and public welfare. Baseline Ranking It shifts the focus from “Rule based The objective of the program is to training to Role based training”. monitor the real-time progress of
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Greater thrust has been laid on can create an account on the Gram behavioural change. Swaraj Portal and know about the Unfolding of Mission Karmayogi developmental works of villages. Mission Karmayogi programme will be About the Portal delivered by setting up a digital e-Gram SWARAJ unifies the planning, platform called iGOTKarmayogi. accounting and monitoring functions The platform will act as a launchpad of Gram Panchayats. for the National Programme for Civil It provides a single window for Services Capacity Building, which will capturing Panchayat information with enable a comprehensive reform of the the complete Profile of the Panchayat, capacity building apparatus at the details of Panchayat finances, asset individual, institutional and process details, activities taken up through levels. Gram Panchayat Development Plan NPCSCB will be governed by the (GPDP), Panchayat information from Prime Minister’s Human Resource other Ministries/ Departments such as Council, which will also include state Census 2011, SECC data, etc. Chief Ministers, Union Cabinet Significance ministers and experts. This council will Monitoring and recording all the work approve and review civil service via Gram Swaraj Portal will help capacity building programmes. speed-up the implementation of There will be a wholly-owned Special projects in village areas. Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which will The Gram Swaraj Portal will provide a govern the iGOT-Karmayogi boost in transparency by platform. decentralized planning of development The SPV will be a “not-for-profit” projects, with progress reports company which will create and updates and increased operationalise the content, market accountability. place and manage key business The Portal will boost e-governance in services of iGOT-Karmayogi platform. the Panchayati raj institutions across To cover around 46 lakh central the nation. employees, a sum of Rs 510.86 crore will be spent over a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25. The 5) One Nation One Ration Card expenditure is partly funded by PDS in India multilateral assistance to the tune of Under the National Food Security $50 million. Act, 2013, about 81 crore persons are entitled to buy subsidized foodgrain — 4) e-Gram Swaraj Portal rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg, and What’s in the news? coarse grains at Re 1/kg — from their With a vision to strengthen designated Fair Price Shops (FPS) of digitalization in Panchayats for the the Targeted Public Distribution purpose of empowering rural India, a System (TPDS). unified tool e-Gram SWARAJ portal has PDS is operated under the joint been developed by the Ministry of responsibility of the Central and the Panchayati Raj for effective State Governments. monitoring and evaluation of works The Central Government, through taken up in the Gram Panchayats. Food Corporation of India (FCI), has The portal can be accessed at assumed the responsibility for https://egramswaraj.gov.in/. Anybody procurement, storage, transportation
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and bulk allocation of food grains to beneficiary family can purchase food the State Governments. grains from different locations. For The operational responsibilities example, a migrant worker staying in a including allocation within the State, different state can buy his or her share identification of eligible families, issue of the subsidized food grains from any of Ration Cards and supervision of the FPS in the state where they work while functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) the remaining family members will be etc., rests with the State able to buy their quota of the supplies Governments. back at home. What is the one ‘One Nation, One Ration Since when has the One Nation, One Card’ system? Ration Card System been in the Earlier, a ration cardholder can buy works? food grains only from an FPS that has Work on this ambitious project started been assigned to her in the locality in about two years back when the which she lives. government launched a scheme called However, under the ‘One Nation, One Integrated Management of Public Ration Card’ system, the beneficiary Distribution System (IM-PDS) in will be able to buy subsidised April 2018 to reform the public foodgrains from any FPS across the distribution system in the country. country. The PDS system was marred with The biggest beneficiaries will be inefficiency leading to leakages in the migrant workers who move to other system. To plug the leakages and make states to seek better job opportunities. the system better, the government How will the system of ration card started the reform process. portability work? For this purpose, it used a Ration card portability is aimed at technological solution involving the providing intra-state as well as inter- use of Aadhaar to identify state portability of ration cards. beneficiaries. Under the scheme, the The new system, based on a seeding of ration cards with technological solution, will identify a Aadhaar is being done. beneficiary through biometric Simultaneously, PoS machines are authentication on electronic Point of being installed at all FPSs across the Sale (ePoS) devices installed at the country. Once 100 per cent of Aadhaar FPSs, and enable that person to seeding and 100 per cent installation purchase the quantity of foodgrains to of PoS devices is achieved, the national which she is entitled under the NFSA. portability of ration cards will become While the Integrated Management of a reality. Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) Why in News? portal (http://www.impds.nic.in/) The progress of implementation of the provides the technological platform for One Nation One Ration Card initiative the inter-state portability of ration was reviewed recently. cards, enabling a migrant worker to Presently, this initiative is seamlessly buy foodgrains from any FPS across enabled in a single cluster of 32 States the country, the other portal and UTs covering about 69 crore (annavitran.nic.in) hosts the data of beneficiaries. distribution of foodgrains through E- PoS devices within a state. 6) Ambedkar Social Innovation Once the ‘one nation one ration card’ and Incubation Mission system takes effect in a given state, the What’s in the news?
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The Ministry of Social Justice and Refer Pulse June 2020 edition for details Empowerment has launched the on ‘Stand Up India’ initiative. “Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) under 7) Ministry of Housing and Urban Venture Capital Fund for SCs” to Affairs Initiatives promote innovation and enterprise Why in News? among Scheduled Caste (SC) The Ministry of Housing and Urban students studying in higher Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the educational institutions. ‘Climate Smart Cities Assessment About ASIIM Framework (CSCAF) 2.0’ and ‘Streets Under ASIIM, one thousand SC youth for People Challenge’ in a virtual event will be identified in the coming four organized by the Smart Cities Mission. years with start-up ideas through the About CSCAF 2.0 Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) The Climate Smart Cities Assessment in various higher educational Framework is a first-of-its-kind institutions. assessment framework on climate They will be funded 30 lakh rupees relevant parameters. in three years as equity funding to It was launched in 2019 by the translate their start-up ideas into Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, commercial ventures. with the objective to provide a clear Successful ventures would further roadmap for Indian cities towards qualify for venture funding of up to combating climate change while five Crore rupees from the Venture planning their actions within the Capital Fund for SCs (VCF-SC). city including investments. Objectives The initiative intends to inculcate a The main objectives of ASIIM are: climate-sensitive approach to urban 1. To promote entrepreneurship among planning and development in India. the SC Youth with special preference Indicators of the Framework to Divyangs. It has 28 indicators across five 2. To support 1,000 innovative ideas till categories namely; 2024 through synergetic work with the 1. Energy and Green Buildings, Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) 2. Urban Planning, Green Cover & set up by the Department of Science Biodiversity, and Technology. 3. Mobility and Air Quality, 3. To support, promote, hand-hold the 4. Water Management and start-up ideas till they reach 5. Waste Management. commercial stage by providing liberal About Streets for People Challenge equity support. The Challenge aims to support cities 4. To incentivise students with an across the country to develop a innovative mindset to take to unified vision of streets for people entrepreneurship with confidence. in consultation with stakeholders Significance and citizens. ASIIM under VCF-SC will promote Cities will be required to reimagine innovation in the SC youth and would their streets as public spaces through help them to become job-givers from the lens of economic regeneration, job-seekers. safety, and child-friendly interventions, It would further give fillip to the ‘Stand in order to ensure a green recovery Up India’ initiative of the Prime from COVID-19. Minister.
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Environment 1) Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD) Indian Sandalwood Santalum album, commonly known as Indian Sandalwood, is a dry deciduous forest species native to China, India, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines. Because it is strong and durable, it is In India it was introduced during the mostly harvested for its timber. Close- 1800s as an ornamental plant. Lantana grained sandalwood heartwood is used has long escaped India’s manicured for fine furniture and carving. gardens and has spread across the The heartwood and roots also contain length and breadth of the country, ‘sandal oil’ which is valued for use in invading roadsides, fallow plots, perfumes, incense, cosmetics, soaps, agricultural fields and forests. and medicines. The bark contains It competes with native plants for tannin, which is used for dye. space and resources, leading to a Because of its economic value, it is reduction in biodiversity. It also prone to illicit felling and alters the nutrient cycle in the soil. overexploitation. Hence, IUCN has The leaves of the Lantana are accorded it vulnerable status. poisonous to the herbivorous, hence Why in the news? its occupancy and invasion in the The sandalwood trees of Karnataka forest areas is harmful to the grass- and Kerala are destructively hit by the eating animals. sandalwood spike disease (SSD). It can also cause problems if it invades It is an infectious disease caused by a agricultural areas as a result of its phytoplasma (bacterial parasites of toxicity to livestock, as well as its plant tissues), which are transmitted ability to form dense thickets which, if by insect vectors. left unchecked, can greatly reduce the SSD is very less studied and has no productivity of farmland. cure. The infected tree has to be cut to Why in the news? reduce the spread of the disease. After noticing the spread of Lantana in Yearly 1-5% of the sandalwood is lost the Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary in due to this disease. Rajasthan, forest officials took up This disease has the potential to wipe MISSION LANTANA to remove the out the whole population of weed across the sanctuary and plant sandalwood. native species.
The lantana was responsible for the 2) Mission Lantana reduction of grass in the sanctuary Lantana shrub which inturn resulted in the decrease Lantana camara is one of the world’s of herbivorous animals such as deer. most invasive species. It is native to Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary American and African continents but It is a sanctuary located near Udaipur, it has spread across the Indian and Rajasthan. The sanctuary is located on Australian continent due its high the Bansdara Peak of the Aravalli adaptability rate.
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Range at an elevation of 944 m above the sea level. Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a salient part of Sajjangarh Palace built- in 1884. The Palace derived its name from Maharana Sajjan Singh, one of the rulers of the Mewar dynasty. The sanctuary contains Jiyan Lake which supports the sanctuary. Related Information What are invasive species? An invasive species can be any kind of living organism—an amphibian, plant, insect, fish, fungus, or bacteria—that is not native to an ecosystem and causes The G-20’s member-countries harm. represent around 85% of the world’s Not all non-native species are economic output, three-quarters of invasive. For example, most of the international trade and two thirds of food crops grown in India, including the world’s population. onion, potato and tomatoes are not The objectives of the G20 are: native to the region. Policy coordination between its To be invasive, members in order to achieve global A species must adapt to the new economic stability, sustainable area easily growth; It must reproduce quickly To promote financial regulations It must harm the economy, or the that reduce risks and prevent native plants and animals of the future financial crises; and region To create a new international Some of the most serious invasive financial architecture. species in India are Alternanthera Why in News? philoxeroides, Cassia uniflora, The Environment Ministerial Meeting Chromolaena odorata, Eichhornia (EMM) of the G20 countries was held crassipes, Lantana camara, Parthenium in September through video hysterophorus and Prosopis juliflora, conferencing under the Presidency of etc. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the meet, the member 3) G20 Initiatives countries launched the Global About G20 Initiative to reduce Land Founded in 1999, the Group of Twenty Degradation and Global Coral Reef (G20) is the premier forum for its R&D Accelerator Platform. members’ international economic Global Initiative to reduce Land cooperation and decision-making. Degradation The G20 comprises Argentina, It aims to strengthen the Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, implementation of existing European Union, France, Germany, frameworks to prevent, halt, and India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, reverse land degradation within Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, G20 member states and globally, South Korea, Turkey, UK and USA. taking into account possible implications on the achievement of
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other SDGs and adhering to the As land is degraded and deserts principle of doing no harm. expand in some places, food G20 member countries announced that production is reduced, water they share the ambition to achieve a sources dry up and populations are 50 percent reduction of degraded pressured to move to more land by 2040, on a voluntary basis. hospitable areas. Coral Reef program The problems are particularly severe The Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator in the driest parts of the planet. Platform is an innovative action- Dryland landscapes cover oriented initiative aimed at creating a approximately 40 percent of the global research and development world’s land area and support two (R&D) program to advance research, billion people. The vast majority of innovation and capacity building in all people who depend on drylands live in facets of coral reef conservation, developing countries, where women restoration, and adaptation, and and children are most vulnerable to strengthen ongoing efforts and the impacts of land degradation and commitments made to enhance coral drought. reefs conservation and their further Coral reefs degradation. Coral reefs are large underwater Related Information structures composed of the skeletons What is Land Degradation? of colonial marine invertebrates Land degradation is the reduction or called coral. loss of the biological or economic The coral species that build reefs are productivity and complexity of known as hermatypic, or "hard," rain—fed cropland, irrigated cropland, corals because they extract calcium or range, pasture, forest or woodlands carbonate (CaCO3) from seawater to resulting from natural processes, land create a hard, durable exoskeleton that uses or other human activities and protects their soft, sac-like bodies. habitation patterns such as land Other species of corals that are not contamination, soil erosion and the involved in reef building are known as destruction of the vegetation cover. “soft” corals. These types of corals are Land degradation is caused by multiple flexible organisms often resembling forces, including extreme weather plants and trees and include species conditions, particularly drought. It is such as sea fans and sea whips. also caused by human activities that Symbiotic relationship pollute or degrade the quality of soils Most reef-building corals contain and land utility. photosynthetic algae, called Desertification is a form of land zooxanthellae, that live in their degradation by which fertile land tissues. The corals and algae have a becomes desert. symbiotic relationship. Impacts The coral provides the algae with a Globally, about 25 percent of the total protected environment and land area has been degraded. compounds they need for When land is degraded, soil carbon photosynthesis. In return, the algae and nitrous oxide is released into the produce oxygen and help the coral to atmosphere, making land degradation remove wastes. The presence of the one of the most important contributors zooxanthellae also provides colored to climate change. pigments to help protect the coral's white skeleton from sunlight.
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Significance of Coral reefs bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can Coral reefs only occupy 0.1% of the survive a bleaching event, but they are area of the ocean but they support under more stress and are subject to 25% of all marine species on the mortality. planet. Because of the diversity of life found in the habitats created by corals, reefs are often called the "rainforests of the sea." Geographical distribution The reef-building corals prefer to grow at depths shallower than 30 m (100 ft), or where the temperature range is between 16-32°C, and light levels are high The majority of reef building corals are found within tropical and subtropical waters. These typically occur between
30°N and 30°S of the equator. Ocean acidification: Ocean The largest of these coral reef systems, acidification is caused by rising levels the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, is of CO2 in the atmosphere. Oceans more than 1,500 miles long (2,400 absorb some of the CO2. As CO2 enters kilometers). the ocean, it reacts with water increasing hydrogen ion concentration (thus decreasing ocean pH) and decreasing the carbonate ion concentration. A reduction in carbonate ions affects the Calcification process of Corals. o Calcification is the process by which corals form their skeletons by combining calcium ions and carbonate ions to create calcium Coral reefs in India carbonate. Coral reefs are present in the areas of Pollution: Urban and industrial waste, Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, plastics, sewage, agrochemicals, and oil Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep pollution are poisoning reefs. Some Islands and Malvan coast of pollutants, such as sewage and runoff Maharashtra. from farming, increase the level of Main threats to coral reefs nitrogen in seawater, causing an Climate change: Warmer water overgrowth of algae. temperatures can result in coral Sedimentation: Erosion caused by bleaching. When water is too warm, construction, mining, logging, and corals expel the algae (zooxanthellae) farming is leading to increased living in their tissues causing the coral sediment in rivers. This ends up in the to turn completely white. This is called ocean, where it can smother corals by coral bleaching. When a coral
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depriving them of the light needed to temperature between the ocean survive. and atmosphere in the east-central Destructive fishing practices: These Equatorial Pacific. include cyanide fishing, blast or La Niña is sometimes referred to as dynamite fishing, bottom trawling, and the cold phase of ENSO and El Niño muro-ami (banging on the reef with as the warm phase of ENSO. These sticks). Bottom-trawling is one of the deviations from normal surface greatest threats to cold-water coral temperatures can have large-scale reefs. impacts not only on ocean processes, but also on global weather and climate. 4) El Nino and La Nina’s impact on El Nino Indian Monsoon El Nino is a climate pattern that About El Nino and La Nina describes the unusual warming of During normal conditions in the surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific ocean, trade winds blow west Pacific Ocean. along the equator, taking warm water During El Niño, the surface winds from South America towards Asia. across the entire tropical Pacific are To replace that warm water, cold weaker than usual. Ocean water rises from the depths — a temperatures in the central and process called upwelling. eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are El Nino and La Nina are two opposing warmer than average, and rainfall is climate patterns that break these below average over Indonesia and normal conditions. They are complex above average over the central or weather patterns resulting from eastern Pacific. variations in ocean temperatures in Rising air motion (which is linked to the Equatorial Pacific. storms and rainfall) increases over the El Niño and La Niña are opposite central or eastern Pacific, and surface phases of what is known as the El pressure there tends to be lower than Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) average. Meanwhile, an increase in cycle. sinking air motion over Indonesia ENSO cycle leads to higher surface pressure and The ENSO cycle is a scientific term dryness. that describes the fluctuations in
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La Nina occur every two to seven years, on La Nina is the “cool phase” of ENSO, a average. pattern that describes the unusual Generally, El Nino occurs more cooling of the tropical eastern frequently than La Nina. Pacific. Why in the news? The surface winds across the entire The United States National Oceanic tropical Pacific are stronger than and Atmospheric Administration usual, and most of the tropical Pacific predicted that there was over 50 Ocean is cooler than average. Rainfall percent chance of a La Niña increases over Indonesia (where condition in the equatorial Pacific waters remain warm) and decreases Ocean during the autumn of 2020. over the central tropical Pacific (which is cool). Over Indonesia, there is more rising 5) Global Biodiversity Outlook air motion and lower surface Convention on Biological Diversity pressure. There is more sinking air Signed by 150 government leaders at motion over the cooler waters of the the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the central and eastern Pacific. Convention on Biological Diversity Duration and frequency (CBD) is dedicated to promoting Episodes of El Nino and La Nina sustainable development. typically last nine to 12 months, but Conceived as a practical tool for can sometimes last for years. translating the principles of Agenda While their frequency can be quite 21 into reality, the Convention irregular, El Nino and La Nina events recognizes that biological diversity is about more than plants, animals and
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microorganisms and their ecosystems Protocols to CBD – it is about people and our need for Cartagena Protocol food security, medicines, fresh air and The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety water, shelter, and a clean and healthy to the Convention on Biological environment in which to live. Diversity is an international India is a party to CBD and enacted agreement which aims to ensure the the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, safe handling, transport and use of (Refer Pulse August edition) to meet living modified organisms (LMOs) the obligations under Convention on resulting from modern biotechnology Biological Diversity. that may have adverse effects on o Agenda 21 is a non-binding action biological diversity, taking also into plan of the United Nations for account risks to human health. sustainable development, covering a It entered into force on 11 September wide range of specific natural 2003. Number of Parties: 173 resources and the role of different (including India). groups, as well as issues of social Nagoya Protocol and economic development and The Nagoya Protocol on Access to implementation. Genetic Resources and the Fair and o It is a product of the 1992 Rio Earth Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising Summit. from their Utilization to the Objectives Convention on Biological Diversity is The CBD entered into force on 29 an international agreement which December 1993. It has 3 main aims at sharing the benefits arising objectives: from the utilization of genetic 1. The conservation of biological resources in a fair and equitable diversity way. 2. The sustainable use of the It entered into force on 12 October components of biological diversity 2014. Number of Parties: 129 3. The fair and equitable sharing of (including India). the benefits arising out of the Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur utilization of genetic resources Supplementary Protocol Aichi Targets Adopted as a supplementary The ‘Aichi Targets’ were adopted by agreement to the Cartagena the Convention on Biological Diversity Protocol on Biosafety, the Nagoya – at the tenth meeting of the Conference Kuala Lumpur Supplementary of the Parties to the CBD (COP10) Protocol on Liability and Redress to which took place in Nagoya, Japan in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 2010. aims to contribute to the conservation During the meeting, the parties agreed and sustainable use of biodiversity by that previous biodiversity protection providing international rules and targets were not achieved, and procedures in the field of liability therefore they needed to come up and redress relating to living with new plans and targets. modified organisms. The short-term plan provides a set of It entered into force on 5 March 2018. 20 time-bound, measurable targets Number of Parties: 48 (including to be met by the year 2020, India). collectively known as the Aichi Why in News? Biodiversity Targets, grouped under five Strategic Goals.
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The Convention on Biological meat. It also called for focussing on Diversity has released its fifth Global the problem of food wastage within Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) report. the supply chain and household. GBO is the flagship publication of the o Climate action: It called for CBD and summarises progress made nature-based solutions to reduce towards achieving the objectives of climate change. the Convention, such as the Aichi o One health: Agricultural and urban Targets and identifies key actions to ecosystems, as well as wildlife achieve these. should be managed in an integrated Highlights of the Report manner. The report states that none of the 20 Sustainable management of agreed conservation targets (also fisheries, oceans and freshwater as known as Aiche Global biodiversity well as sustainable development of targets) have been met in the last 10 cities and infrastructure were the years. other areas in which the shift needed The loss of ecosystems has speeded up to take place. and 70% of the land is impacted by What needs to be done ahead? human intervention. Biodiversity needs to be a central The Covid-19 situation has further point and an integrated approach is accelerated our disconnection with needed. nature. Experts believe that all nations will Shifts that need to be implemented now have to implement the ambitious The GBO-5 suggested eight types of new target of protecting at least 30% shifts that need to be implemented to of the planet by 2030 – popularly achieve the 2050 Vision for known as 30x30 target – under the Biodiversity. These includes UN Convention on Biological Diversity. o Transition within land and It means 30% land and 30% ocean forests: The report called the needs to be conserved for achieving restoration of all forests that had global biodiversity by 2050. been degraded. It also urged In addition to this, biodiversity should restoring local ecosystems. be made an integral and essential o Sustainable agriculture: Farmers component of planning. would have to reduce the use of Mono cropping can be replaced by chemicals and instead focus more multi-crop cultivation as well as on agroecological farming sustainability of groundwater is practices. essential. o Sustainable food systems: The report urged people to eat healthier, plant-based food and less
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Agriculture 1) Pusa Decomposer process for developing the liquid Stubble burning solution from these capsules which can Stubble burning is the act of clearing take about four to five days. agricultural fields by burning the It starts with boiling 25 litres of water residue that is left on the land after mixed with 150 grams of jaggery, harvesting, to ready it for the next which scientists say has properties round of seeding. that help in multiplication of fungi. The period from 15 October to 15 After this mix has cooled, 50 grams of November is when stubble burning besan (or gram flour) is added to it instances spike because paddy crops along with four ‘Pusa Decomposer’ are harvested during this time and the capsules. residue left behind needs to be quickly This solution is then covered with a cleared to sow wheat. thin piece of cloth and left in a dark It is one of the major causes of severe room for four days. On the fourth day, air pollution which occurs in Delhi a thick growth of fungi will be seen on and nearby cities during winters. top of the solution. This has to be Several solutions have been proposed mixed well, and thereafter the solution over the years to tackle the issue. The is ready for use. most recent one is the ‘Pusa How long does it take for the Decomposer’ capsule developed by the decomposer to work? Indian Agriculture Research The window of time required for the Institute (IARI) in New Delhi. solution to work, which is currently What is Pusa Decomposer? the main concern of farmers, is around It is essentially a fungi-based liquid 20 to 25 days, as per the IARI. solution that can soften hard stubble Farmers argue that this window is too to the extent that it can be easily mixed long for them, as they ideally wait with soil in the field to act as compost. about a week or 10 days after This would then rule out the need to harvesting the non-basmati variety of burn the stubble. rice — which leaves hard stubble — to When farmers burn the residue, not sow the wheat crop. only does it lead to air pollution, it also IARI scientists, however, say that burns the top layer off the soil and farmers do not necessarily have to deprives the fields of much-needed plant the next crop in a rush — and nutrients. When we use this bio- that 20-25 days is enough waiting decomposer, we also retain a portion time. of the stalk and the roots, which get IARI scientists have also said that decomposed in the fields themselves farmers do not necessarily have to wait and add to the nutrition in the soil. for the entire 20-25 day window How is the decomposer to be used by before getting to work on the field. farmers? They can start ploughing and There are seven strains of fungi that preparing the land 10-15 days after IARI has identified after research spraying the decomposer. which help in rapid breakdown of hard Why in the News? stubble. The Ministry of Environment, Forest These seven strains of fungi are packed and Climate Change has asked states of into four capsules, which cost about Punjab, UP, Haryana and Delhi to Rs.20 per pack of four. But there is a
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conduct field trials of Pusa the application of jeevamrutha, a Decomposer. mixture of fresh desi cow dung and aged desi cow urine, jaggery, pulse 2) Zero Budget Natural Farming flour, water and soil on farmland. Agriculture and Water Scarcity This is a fermented microbial culture Excessive use of water threatens the that adds nutrients to the soil, and sustainability of livelihoods acts as a catalytic agent to promote dependent on water and agriculture. the activity of microorganisms and In India, the Green Revolution had a earthworms in the soil. phenomenal impact on India’s food About 200 litres of jeevamrutha production, but it also rendered the should be sprayed twice a month per land infertile, led to extensive water acre of land. Only one local indian consumption and aggravated breed cow is needed for 30 acres of groundwater loss. land. As per the Central Water Other techniques in ZBNF Commission, the country’s The ZBNF method also promotes soil agriculture sector already consumes aeration, minimal watering, over 83 per cent of the available water intercropping, bunds and topsoil resources and the demand will grow. mulching and discourages intensive Zero Budget Natural Farming irrigation and deep ploughing. In the recent past, there has been a Advantages of ZBNF global demand to shift to sustainable Input costs are near zero as no farming systems, such as Zero Budget fertilizers and pesticides are used. Natural Farming (ZBNF). ZBNF farms were able to withstand India, too, introduced ZBNF in its drought and flooding. Union Budget 2019-20. The planting of multiple crops and ZBNF is a method of chemical-free border crops on the same field agriculture drawing from provide varied income and nutrient traditional Indian practices. sources. It was originally promoted by There is reduced usage of water and Maharashtrian agriculturist and electricity, improved health of Padma Shri recipient Subhash farmers, flourishing of local Palekar, who developed it in the mid- ecosystems and biodiversity and no 1990s as an alternative to the Green toxic chemical residues in the Revolution’s methods driven by environment. chemical fertilizers and pesticides and The inputs help manage soil intensive irrigation. nutrition, fertility, pests and seeds. Without the need to spend money on The technology requires less tilling these inputs or take loans to buy and completely rejects the use of them, the cost of production could be inorganic fertilisers, pesticides and reduced and farming made into a herbicides. “zero budget” exercise, breaking the Why in the news? debt cycle for many small farmers. A research team recently conducted ZBNF is also against an exploratory study in Andhra vermicomposting, which is the Pradesh to compare ZBNF and non- mainstay of typical organic farming. ZBNF techniques in paddy, groundnut, Jeevamrutha chilli, cotton and maize farming. Instead of commercially produced Highlights of the study chemical inputs, the ZBNF promotes
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The comparison was made on six percent of employment and 11 parameters— water, electricity and percent of India's trade with the rest energy consumption, greenhouse of the world. India is the eighth largest gas emissions, yield and net exporter of agricultural produce. revenue. These figures underscore the need for The study found the maximum having a pragmatic strategy for India's benefits of ZBNF in paddy farming. trade in agriculture, especially in the Water: A saving of 1,400 to 3,500 wake of the pandemic. cubic metre of water per acre per Agricultural Exports & Imports paddy cropping period (one acre In 2019-20, while agricultural exports equals 0.4 hectare) was accomplished from India were US$ 33.9 billion, by adopting ZBNF. i.e.10.8 percent of India's total Electricity: In just one crop season, merchandise exports, agricultural electricity consumption of farms imports stood at US$ 19.9 billion, relying on groundwater reduced by accounting for 4.2 percent of India's 1,500-3,900 units per acre. total merchandise imports. Greenhouse gas Emissions: Multiple Compared to the previous financial aeration hinders microbial activity year, while agricultural exports and cuts methane emissions by 88 per dipped by 7.4 percent, agricultural cent, compared to the conventional imports hiked up by 1.8 percent in flooding practice. This leads to an 2019-20. additional saving of fossil fuels used Trade Constituents and Constraints for electricity generation and The top five agricultural emissions reduction. commodities which were exported ZBNF can avoid the current drawing from India in 2019-20 accounted for of groundwater by 50 to 60 per cent, almost 64 percent of India's ensure adequate groundwater agricultural exports. Cereals reserve, improve water table and constituted about 20 percent of India's reduce financial and labour stress on agricultural exports. farmers. As far as imports are concerned, close Conclusion to 50 percent of India's agricultural ZBNF does show water-saving imports are accounted for by animal potential and can address India’s food or vegetable fats and oils. and security in the long run, but deep Trade Barriers investigation is required to ascertain if Trade barriers may take the form of it can be replicated in the various tariffs or non-tariffs. agro-climatic zones across the o Tariffs- It includes the imposition country. of customs duties which raise the ZBNF requires time and policy price of the import and erode their support so that the government competitive edge provides monetary help for it to be o Non-tariffs- It entails quotas, adopted in all the states. subsidies, prohibitions, standards, etc. which make it 3) STRATEGIES TO BOOST INDIA’S difficult to penetrate the GLOBAL AGRICULTURE TRADE destination market. Context Even when tariffs have been reduced Agriculture accounts for a vital part of or dismantled, there can be non-tariff the Indian economy, accounting for 17 barriers to trade in the form of percent of Gross Value Added, 40 requirements of certification,
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registration, testing, packaging, Development Fund to promote to labelling, licensing, prohibition, establish (i) the dairy processing and restrictions, etc. value addition infrastructure, (ii) meat Over the years, developed countries processing and value addition have moved from tariffs to non-tariff infrastructure and (iii) Animal Feed barriers. Therefore, despite having Plant. low tariffs, developed countries offer Way Forward low market access to exporters, India’s Agriculture Export policy which signifies that the full potential should focus on the following of India's agricultural exports to objectives: developed countries has not yet been i. To diversify our export basket, tapped. destinations and boost high value Recent developments to promote Agri and value added agricultural exports exports, including focus on The Kisan Rath app was launched perishables. recently to facilitate farmers and ii. To promote novel, indigenous, traders in identifying suitable modes organic, ethnic, traditional and of transport for movement of non-traditional Agri products agricultural produce. It was developed exports. by the National Informatics Centre, iii. To provide an institutional under the Ministry of Electronics and mechanism for pursuing market Information Technology. access, tackling barriers and dealing Besides, All India Agri Transport with sanitary and phytosanitary 24X7 Call Centres to facilitate inter- issues. state movement of perishables during iv. To strive to double India’s share in lockdown. Truck drivers and helpers, world agri exports by integrating traders, retailers, transporters with global value chains. farmers, manufacturers or any other v. Enable farmers to get benefit of export stakeholder who is facing problems in opportunities in overseas markets. inter-state movement of agricultural, horticultural or any other perishable commodities besides seeds and fertilizers may seek help by calling at the Call Centre. Cabinet approval has been accorded to the setting up of an Animal Husbandry Infrastructure
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Economy 1) Index of Eight Core Industries It is released by the Office of About ICI Economic Adviser, Department for The monthly Index of Eight Core Promotion of Industry and Internal Industries (ICI) is a production Trade, Ministry of Commerce and volume index. Industry. The objective of the ICI is to provide an The base year is 2011-2012. advance indication on production The index basket consists of performance of industries of ‘core’ commodities under 3 main categories nature. These industries are likely to in decreasing order of weightage: impact on general economic activities Manufactured products, Primary as well as industrial activities. Articles and Fuel and Power. The Eight Core Industries- Electricity, Why in News? steel, refinery products, crude oil, India’s wholesale inflation turned coal, cement, natural gas and positive in August for the first time fertilizers- comprise 40.27 per cent since March reflecting a recovery in of the weight of items included in the producers’ pricing power. Index of Industrial Production (IIP). Wholesale Price Index rose to 0.16% in Industry Weight (In percentage) August from a 0.58% contraction in 1. Petroleum & Refinery production - July. 28.04 2. Electricity generation - 19.85 3) Consumer Price Index (CPI) 3. Steel production - 17.92 About CPI 4. Coal production - 10.33 It is an index which measures the 5. Crude Oil production - 8.98 weighted average of prices of a basket 6. Natural Gas production - 6.88 of consumer goods and services such 7. Cement production - 5.37 as transportation, food and medical 8. Fertilizers production - 2.63 care. ICI is released by the Office of It is calculated by measuring price Economic Advisor, under the Ministry changes for each item in the of Commerce and Industries. The base predetermined basket of goods and year of the ICI is 2011-12. services and averaging them. Why in News? It is released by the National According to the official data, the Statistical Office (NSO) under the output of eight core infrastructure Ministry of Statistics and Programme sectors dropped by 8.5% in August, Implementation. mainly due to decline in production of The base year used to calculate CPI in steel, refinery products and cement. India is 2011-2012. WPI vs CPI 2) Wholesale Price Index While the Wholesale Price Index keeps About WPI track of the wholesale price of goods, Wholesale Price Index measures and the CPI measures the average price tracks the changes in the price of that households pay for a basket of goods in the stages before the retail different goods and services. level. It provides estimates of inflation The CPI basket consists of services at the wholesale transaction level for like housing, education, medical the economy as a whole. care, recreation etc. which are not WPI basket does not cover services. part of WPI basket. A significant
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proportion of WPI item basket of the same maturity. This shows that represents manufacturing inputs and the central government is considered intermediate goods like minerals, more creditworthy than state basic metals, machinery etc. whose governments. prices are influenced by global factors In 2015, the Government allowed but these are not directly consumed by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to the households and are not part of the buy SDLs up to 2% of outstanding CPI item basket. SDLs in the market. Even as the WPI is used as a key Why in News? measure of inflation in some Eleven States raised a total of ₹14,298 economies, the RBI no longer uses it crore at the auction of State for policy purposes. The central bank government securities or State currently uses the Consumer Price development loans (SDLs) held Index as a key measure of inflation to recently. set the monetary and credit policy. Under the flexible inflation targeting 5) CAG Report (FIT) framework, RBI aims to contain What is the Operating ratio? CPI based inflation within 4 percent Operating ratio measures expenses as with a band of (+/-) 2 percent. a proportion of revenue or the Why in News? amount spent on every rupee According to the data released by the earned. Ministry of Statistics & Programme A measure of expenditure against Implementation (MoSPI), Retail revenue, the operating ratio shows inflation, measured by the Consumer how efficiently the organisation is Price Index, stood at 6.69 per cent in operating and how healthy its finances the month of August. are. For example: An operating ratio of 98 4) State Development Loans per cent means that the organisation What are SDLs? spent Rs 98 to earn Rs 100. State Development Loans (SDLs) are Lower the ratio, the healthier are the market borrowings by state organisation's finances. governments. What are Extra Budgetary Resources? The RBI issues these securities on Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) are their behalf, through auctions. those financial liabilities that are Purpose of issuing State Development raised by public sector Loans is to meet the budgetary needs undertakings for which repayment of state governments. Each state is of the entire principal and interest allowed to issue securities up to a is done from the Central certain limit each year. Government Budget. SDLs are eligible securities for Apart from budgetary spending, EBRs Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) and have also been mobilized to finance Liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) infrastructure investment since 2016- purposes, and are bought by banks, 17. insurance companies, mutual funds, These EBRs are not taken into provident funds and other institutional account while calculating the Fiscal investors. Deficit. Generally, the coupon rates on State However, they are considered in the Development Loans are higher than calculations of Government Debt. those of central government securities
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The Union Budget 2020-21 proposes FY21 to support the Government of to raise EBR of Rs 57,004 crore in India’s Water, Sanitisation and 2019-20 BE which 0.27 per cent of Hygiene (WASH) programme. GDP is. NABARD will provide concessional Why in News? refinance to all eligible financial A recent Comptroller and Auditor institutions including commercial General (CAG) report tabled in banks, regional rural banks and Parliament held that the Ministry of cooperative banks with a repayment Railways had resorted to ‘window period of up to 36 months. dressing’ for presenting the working WASH programme expense and operating ratio for 2018- WASH is the collective term for Water, 19 in a better light. Sanitation and Hygiene. Due to their The CAG noted that against the target interdependent nature, these three of 92.8% in the Budget Estimates, the core issues are grouped together to operating ratio of railways was represent a growing sector. While each 97.29% in FY19. This means railways a separate field of work, each is spent ₹97.29 to earn ₹100. This, dependent on the presence of the however, is an improvement from other. FY18’s 98.44%, the worst in ten years. For example, without toilets, water The CAG reported that the Ministry of sources become contaminated; Railways resorted to Extra Budgetary without clean water, basic hygiene Resources (EBR) for project financing practices are not possible. 2015-16 onwards. 7) Cess 6) NABARD What is a cess? About NABARD The Union government is empowered NABARD was established in 1982 to raise revenue through a gamut of under the National Bank for levies, including taxes (both direct and Agriculture and Rural Development indirect), surcharges, fees and cess. Act, 1981. While direct taxes and indirect taxes NABARD is an apex refinancing are taxes where the revenue received agency for the institutions providing can be spent by the government for investment and production credit for any public purpose in any manner it promoting the various developmental deems appropriate for the nation’s activities in rural areas. good, a cess is an earmarked tax that is It is responsible for the development of collected for a specific purpose and the small industries, cottage industries, ought to be spent only for that. and any other such village or rural Every cess is collected after projects. Parliament has authorised its NABARD also provides direct term creation through an enabling loans at affordable rates of interest to legislation that specifies the purpose certain activities like Designated Food for which the funds are being raised. Parks (DFPs) and food processing units Article 270 of the Constitution allows in the DFPs. cess to be excluded from the purview NABARD is wholly owned by the of the divisible pool of taxes that the Government of India. Union government must share with the Why in News? States. NABARD has announced a special Present status refinance facility of ₹800 crore for
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The introduction of the GST in 2017 the states as they are not part of the led to most cesses being done away divisible pool that needs to be shared with and as of August 2018, there were with states. only seven cesses that continued to be Impact on fiscal devolution levied. The cesses and surcharges constituted These were Cess on Exports, Cess on just about 3% of Central gross tax Crude Oil, Health and Education Cess, revenue in 2000-01; but in 2015-16, it Road and Infrastructure Cess, Building was 16.5% and it could be as much as and Other Construction Workers 20% in 2020-21. Welfare Cess, National Calamity Given that cess and surcharge do not Contingent Duty on Tobacco and need to be a part of the divisible pool Tobacco Products and the GST of resources, this increasing share of Compensation Cess. cess and surcharge in the Union Last year, Finance Minister Nirmala government’s tax receipts has a direct Sitharaman introduced a new cess — a impact on fiscal devolution. Health Cess of 5% on imported Complicate the tax system medical devices — in the Finance Bill In addition to this, cesses are for 2020-2021. earmarked taxes and to ensure a Why in News? minimum allocation to important and The Comptroller and Auditor General priority programmes, this method of (CAG) of India, in its latest audit report financing could be used. of government accounts, has observed Large numbers of cesses make it that the Union government withheld in difficult to see all of them as priority the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) areas requiring protection of funding more than ₹1.1 lakh crore out of the which may result in the possibility of almost ₹2.75 lakh crore collected limiting the funding of important and through various cesses in 2018-19. priority areas to the amount of cess The CAG found this objectionable since collected even when they require much cess collections are supposed to be larger amounts. transferred to specified Reserve Too many cesses also complicate the Funds that Parliament has approved tax system and add to administrative for each of these levies in the Public and compliance costs. Account of India. Related Information 8) Trade surplus Cess & Surcharge What is Balance of Payments? A cess is a tax that is levied by the Balance of Payments (BoP) statistics government to raise funds for a systematically summaries the specific purpose. Surcharge is an economic transactions of an economy additional charge or tax. For example: with the rest of the World for a specific A surcharge of 10% on a tax rate of period. 30% effectively raises the combined BoP broadly comprises current tax burden to 33%. account, capital account and The main difference between changes in foreign exchange surcharge and cess is that surcharge reserves. can be spent like any other taxes, the Current account cess should be spent only for a specific Current account of the BoP includes purpose for which it is created. merchandise (exports and imports) The Union government does not have and invisibles. to share cesses and surcharges with
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Invisible transactions are further What is it? classified into three categories, Electronic Way Bill (E-Way Bill) is namely basically a compliance mechanism 1. Services-travel, transportation, wherein by way of a digital interface insurance, Government not included the person causing the movement of elsewhere (GNIE) and miscellaneous goods uploads the relevant (such as, communication, construction, information prior to the financial, software, news agency, commencement of movement of goods royalties, management and business and generates e-way bill on the GST services); portal. 2. Income; and E-way bill is a mechanism to ensure 3. Transfers (grants, gifts, remittances, that goods being transported etc.) which do not have any quid pro comply with the GST Law and is an quo. effective tool to track the movement Capital account of goods and check tax evasion. The main components of the capital An e-way bill is required for inter-State account include foreign investment, movement of goods worth over loans and banking capital. ₹50,000. For intra-State movement, Foreign investment, comprising the limits vary from State to State. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Since imports and exports have been Portfolio Investment consisting of considered as inter-state supplies Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) under the GST act, the e-way bill is investment, American Depository required to be issued for these Receipts/Global Depository Receipts transactions as well. (ADRs/GDRs) represents non-debt Exceptions to e-way bill requirement liabilities, while loans (external 1. goods being transported by a non- assistance, external commercial motorised conveyance; borrowings and trade credit) and 2. goods being transported from the banking capital, including non-resident port, airport, air cargo complex and Indian (NRI) deposits are debt land customs station to an inland liabilities. container depot or a container Why in News? freight station for clearance by According to the RBI data, India Customs; recorded a surplus of $19.8 billion 3. Contraceptives, judicial and non- (3.9% of GDP) in its current account judicial stamp paper, newspapers, balance in the first quarter of FY21. khadi, raw silk, Indian flag, human India registered a surplus of $0.6 hair, kajal, earthen pots, cheques, billion (0.1% of GDP) in the preceding municipal waste, puja samagri, LPG, quarter. A deficit of $15 billion (2.1% kerosene, etc. are also outside the of GDP) was recorded a year earlier. ambit of the e-way bill. The surplus in the current account in Why in News? the first quarter of 2020-21 was on According to the latest Goods and account of a sharp contraction in Services Tax Network (GSTN) data, trade deficit to $10 billion due to a more than 4.87 crore e-way bills, steeper decline in merchandise valued at over ₹13.85 lakh crore, were imports relative to exports on a year- generated by businesses and on-year basis. transporters in August 2020, reflecting a pick up in economic activity. 9) E-Way Bill Related information
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About GSTN It is managed by ICICI Prudential Goods and Services Tax Network is a Asset Management Company. nonprofit non-government The scheme is intended for investors company, which provides IT who are seeking long-term capital infrastructure and services to the appreciation through a diversified Central and State Governments, portfolio which is largely comprised of taxpayers and other stakeholders for high-quality public sector implementation of the Goods and undertakings. Services Tax (GST) in India. Why in News? It acts as the interface between the Gold-backed ETFs witnessed a huge government and the taxpayers and inflow in August, for the fifth month in helps taxpayers in India to prepare, file a row, amid major economies staring returns, make payments of indirect tax at a recession due to the spread of liabilities and do other compliances. COVID-19 pandemic. Gold-backed ETFs are investment 10) Exchange Traded Funds instruments that are based on price What are ETFs? movements and investments in An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a physical gold. basket of securities that trade on an Net inflow in gold ETF category, exchange. ETFs can contain all types of reached ₹5,356 crore in the January- investments including stocks, August period. commodities, or bonds. With all major economies staring at a ETFs were started in 2001 in India. recession due to the spread of the ETFs are in many ways similar to COVID-19 pandemic, gold, with its mutual funds; however, they are listed safe-haven appeal, has emerged as one on exchanges and ETF shares trade of the best-performing asset classes throughout the day just like ordinary and a preferred investment destination stock. among investors. The Government of India uses ETF to disinvest its holdings in public 11) GDP growth at -23.9% in Q1 sector companies rather than sell What’s in the news? them on a piecemeal basis in the According to the latest data released market. The latest such vehicle is the by the National Statistical Office, Bharat 22 ETF. Indian economy saw its worst Bharat-22 contraction in decades, with Gross The foundation of Bharat 22 ETF was Domestic Product (GDP) shrinking laid by the government in the Union by a record 23.9% in the April to Budget 2017 as a vehicle to achieve June quarter in comparison to the its disinvestment target and was same period last year. launched in November 2017. The contraction reflects the severe Bharat 22 is an open-ended ETF which impact of the COVID-19 lockdown, allows investors to invest in a which halted most economic activities, basket of government-owned and as well as the slowdown trend of the private sector entities. economy even pre-COVID-19. The index comprises 22 stocks of What is the biggest implication? Central Public Sector Enterprises, Economists expect this to contribute to Public Sector Banks and private a contraction in annual GDP this entities. year, which may be the worst in the history of independent India.
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Since economic liberalisation in the businesses (I). This accounted for early 1990s, Indian economy has 32% of all GDP in India. clocked an average of 7% GDP growth The third engine is the demand for each year. This year, it is likely to goods and services generated by the contract by 7%. government (G) and it accounted for There have been four other instances 11% of India’s GDP. of minor contraction between 1965- 68, and 1972-73, but this year is likely to be the worst since Independence. How have each sector fared? In terms of the gross value added (GVA) by different sectors of the economy, data show that barring agriculture, where GVA grew by 3.4%, all other sectors of the economy saw their incomes fall. The last engine is the net demand on The worst affected were construction GDP after we subtract imports from (–50%), trade, hotels and other India’s exports (NX). In India’s case, it services (–47%), manufacturing (– is the smallest engine and, since India 39%), and mining (–23%). It is typically imports more than it exports, important to note that these are the its effect is negative on the GDP. sectors that create the maximum new Total GDP = C + I + G + NX jobs in the country. What is the way out? What causes GDP contraction? When incomes fall sharply, private In any economy, the total demand for individuals cut back consumption. goods and services — that is the GDP When private consumption falls — is generated from one of the four sharply, businesses stop investing. engines of growth. Since both of these are voluntary The biggest engine is consumption decisions, there is no way to force demand (C) from private individuals. people to spend more and/or coerce In the Indian economy, this accounted businesses to invest more in the for 56.4% of all GDP before this current scenario. quarter. The same logic holds for exports and The second biggest engine is the imports as well. demand generated by private sector
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Under the circumstances, there is only Banks and Small Finance Banks) and one engine that can boost GDP and Foreign banks with 20 branches and that is the government (G). above: 40 per cent of Adjusted Net Only when the government spends Bank Credit or Credit Equivalent more — either by building roads and Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, bridges and paying salaries or by whichever is higher. directly handing out money — can the 2. Regional Rural Banks & Small economy revive in the short to medium finance banks: 75 per cent of Adjusted term. Net Bank Credit or Credit Equivalent If the government does not spend Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, adequately enough then the economy whichever is higher. will take a long time to recover. 3. Foreign banks with less than 20 What is holding back the government branches: 40 per cent of Adjusted Net from spending more? Bank Credit or Credit Equivalent Even before the Covid crisis, Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, government finances were whichever is higher, to be achieved in a overextended. In other words, it was phased manner by 2020. not only borrowing but borrowing 4. Sub-targets are specified for certain more than what it should have. sectors like 18% to agriculture with As a result, the borrowing space of the 8% to small and marginal farmers, government is severely restricted. 7.5% to micro units and 10% to Advances to Weaker Sections. 12) New Priority Sector lending Why in News? norms The RBI has released revised priority What is Priority Sector Lending? sector lending guidelines to augment Priority Sector means those sectors funding to segments including start- which the Government of India and ups and agriculture. Reserve Bank of India consider as The revised PSL guidelines will enable important for the development of the better credit penetration to credit basic needs of the country and are to deficient areas, increase the lending to be given priority over other sectors. small and marginal farmers and The banks are mandated to encourage weaker sections, boost credit to the growth of such sectors with renewable energy, and health adequate and timely credit. infrastructure. Priority Sector includes the following Changes made categories: According to the revised guidelines, 1. Agriculture 1. Bank finance of up to ₹50 crore 2. Micro, Small and Medium to start-ups, Enterprises 2. loans to farmers both for 3. Export Credit installation of solar power plants 4. Education for solarisation of grid- 5. Housing connected agriculture pumps, 6. Social Infrastructure and for setting up compressed 7. Renewable Energy biogas (CBG) plants have been 8. Others included as fresh categories eligible Targets Under the Priority Sector for finance under the priority Lending sector. 1. Domestic scheduled commercial The revised PSL guidelines have been banks (excluding Regional Rural framed to address regional
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disparities in the flow of priority companies (FPCs) undertaking sector credit. Higher weightage has farming with assured marketing of been assigned to incremental priority their produce at a pre-determined sector credit in ‘identified districts’ price. where priority sector credit flow is While the loan limits for renewable comparatively low. energy have been doubled now, the The targets prescribed for ‘small and credit limit for health marginal farmers’ and ‘weaker infrastructure, including those under sections’ are being increased in a ‘Ayushman Bharat’, has also been phased manner and higher credit limit doubled to improve the country’s has been specified for farmer health infrastructure. producer organisations (FPOs)/farmers producers
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Organisations 1) International Criminal Court Comparison of ICC and ICJ About ICC International International The International Criminal Court (ICC) Criminal Court of Justice is a permanent judicial body Court (ICC) (ICJ) established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998). Independent Principal judicial It is an independent judicial body judicial body organ of the UN distinct from the UN. distinct from ICC investigates and tries individuals the UN charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international Handles Hears disputes community: genocide, war crimes, prosecutions of between crimes against humanity and the crime individuals sovereign states of aggression. Established by the Established in 1945 The ICC was established as a court of last resort to prosecute the most Rome Statute by the San heinous offenses in cases where in 2002 Francisco national courts fail to act. Conference, which also It is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. created the UN Membership Only those who All members of the Only those who ratified the Rome ratified the UN are parties to Statute are parties to ICC. Rome Statute the statute of the 123 countries are States Parties to the are parties to ICJ, and non- Rome Statute of the ICC. ICC members may Prominent countries that are not also become members include China, India, Iraq, parties Libya, Yemen, Qatar, Israel, USA and Russia. The judges are The judges are Jurisdiction elected by the elected by the The ICC can open an investigation into Assembly of UN General possible crimes in one of three ways: States Parties, Assembly and 1. A member country can refer a situation the court's the Security within its own territory to the court; governing Council 2. The un security council can refer a body. situation; or 3. The prosecutor can launch an Headquarters of both the courts are investigation into a member state situated at The Hague, Netherlands. proprio motu, or “on one’s own Why in News? initiative.” The U.S. announced sanctions, The court can investigate individuals including asset freezes and visa bans from non-member states if the against two officials of the alleged offenses took place in a International Criminal Court for an member state’s territory, if the investigation into alleged war crimes nonmember state accepts the court’s by U.S. forces in Afghanistan since jurisdiction, or with the Security 2003. Council’s authorization.
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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo The ICJ has an International Secretariat pointed out that the U.S. had never based in Geneva, Switzerland. ratified the Rome Statute, which Why in News? created the ICC in 1998, and thus was The International Commission of not subject to its rulings. Jurists has said civil rights lawyer India and ICC Prashant Bhushan’s conviction for Although the U.S. was part of the criminal contempt of court by the founding movement to build the ICC to Supreme Court seemed to be try cases of genocide and war crime, inconsistent with the freedom of especially after the courts in Rwanda expression law guaranteed by the failed, it decided not to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Statute in 2002. Political Rights that India was a party Countries like Russia, China and to. India, however, were never in favour About ICCPR of the Rome Statute or the ICC, and The International Covenant on Civil never signed on. and Political Rights (ICCPR) is a For India, the decision was based on a multilateral treaty adopted by the number of principles. The ICC is a United Nations General Assembly in criminal court, unlike the 1966, and it came into force in 1976. International Court of Justice (which The ICCPR, together with the Universal adjudicates on civil matters), and Declaration of Human Rights and the arrogates to itself the right to International Covenant on Economic prosecute matters against countries Social and Cultural Rights, are that aren’t even signatories. considered the International Bill of India said that the Statute gave to the Human Rights. UN Security Council a role in terms The covenant commits its parties to that violates international law by respect the civil and political rights of giving the power to refer cases to the individuals, including the right to life, ICC, the power to block such freedom of religion, freedom of speech, references and the power to bind non- freedom of assembly, electoral rights State parties to such decisions. and rights to due process and a fair India also objected to the omission of trial. cross-border terror, use of nuclear At present, the Covenant has 173 arms and weapons of mass parties (including India). destruction from the areas the ICC (Refer Pulse July 2020 edition for details would institute its investigations. on contempt of court)
2) International Commission of 3) Association of World Election Jurists Bodies About ICJ What is it? The International Commission of The Association of World Election Jurists (ICJ) is an international non- Bodies (A-WEB) is the largest governmental organisation which association of Election Management promotes human rights and the rule of Bodies worldwide. It was established law. in 2013 in South Korea. Its membership consists of sixty A-WEB aims at strengthening the eminent jurists from around the processes of election management in world. member countries.
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At present A-WEB has 115 Election Why in News? Management Bodies (EMBs) as The Election Commission of India Members and 16 Regional hosted an International Webinar on Associations/Organisations as ‘Issues, Challenges and Protocols for Associate Members. Conducting Elections during COVID- Election Commission of India (ECI) 19: Sharing Country Experiences’ on its has been very closely associated with completion of one year of the process of formation of A-WEB Chairmanship of the Association of since 2011-12. World Election Bodies (A-WEB). India took over as the Chair of the organisation for two years from 2019.
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Science and Technology 1) Blockchain technology and A simple analogy for understanding Voting blockchain technology is a Google Doc. Blockchain When we create a document and share A blockchain is a distributed ledger it with a group of people, the document of information which is replicated is distributed instead of copied or across various nodes on a “peer-to- transferred. peer” network for the purpose of This creates a decentralized ensuring integrity and verifiability distribution chain that gives everyone of data stored on the ledger. access to the document at the same Blockchain, sometimes referred to as time. But blockchain is more Distributed Ledger Technology complicated than a Google Doc (DLT), makes the history of any digital Blockchain is an especially promising asset unalterable and transparent and revolutionary technology because through the use of decentralization it helps reduce risk, stamps out and cryptographic hashing. fraud and brings transparency in a scalable way for myriad uses.
Applications 6. Anti-money laundering tracking Blockchain ledgers have traditionally system been used as supporting structures for 7. Supply chain and logistics monitoring cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and 8. Voting mechanism Ethereum; however, their use in non- 9. Advertising insights cryptocurrency applications too has 10. Original content creation seen a steady rise such as: 11. Cryptocurrency exchange 1. Secure sharing of medical data 12. Real estate processing platform 2. Music royalties tracking Why in News? 3. Cross-border payments The Election Commission recently held 4. Real-time IoT operating systems an online conference in collaboration 5. Personal identity security with IIT Madras, through which they explored the possibility of using
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blockchain technology for the purpose An attacker may be able to clone the of enabling remote elections. biometric attributes required for Benefits of remote voting authenticating as another individual Increases voter participation and cast a vote on their behalf. Remote voting helps to increase voter Physical implants or software participation which had remained only backdoors placed on an individual around 67% in general elections by system could allow attackers to collect ensuring people, who had migrated and deduce voting choices of from their native constituencies for individuals. various reasons to vote from wherever Existing alternatives they were. To resolve the issue of ballot It benefits internal migrants and portability, technological solutions seasonal workers, who account for which involve setting up entirely new, roughly 51 million of the populace untested voting infrastructure may not (Census 2011) and remotely-stationed be the answer when there exists members of the Indian armed solutions such as postal ballots or forces in exercising their democratic proxy voting, which allows right of voting. individuals to vote out of their home Security concerns State. Need for physical presence and Refer Pulse July 2020 edition for details biometric authentication on Postal ballots. Electors would still have to physically Way Forward reach a designated venue in order to Digitisation, in itself, does not make cast their vote where systems would processes more robust. use white-listed IP devices on Any solution to electoral problems dedicated internet lines, and that the must be software independent and system would make use of the fault tolerable, where failure or biometric attributes of electors. tampering of one mechanism or o IP whitelisting is a security feature several would not affect the integrity often used for limiting and or transparency of the overall process. controlling access only to trusted users. 2) Gopalakrishnan committee Principle of secrecy report on non-personal data
Blockchain solutions rely heavily on What’s in the news? the proper implementation of A nine-member committee headed by cryptographic protocols. If any Infosys co-founder Kris shortcomings exist in an Gopalakrishnan, constituted by the implementation, it might stand to government, has submitted its draft potentially unmask the identity and report. The committee has kept time voting preferences of electors. It till August 13 for the public to send goes against Section 94 of the suggestions. Representation of People Act which Major Recommendations upholds the privilege of the voter to The committee has suggested that maintain confidentiality about her non-personal data generated in the choice of vote. country be allowed to be harnessed by The principle of secrecy of ballots is various domestic companies and also an important postulate of entities as it may be useful for Indian constitutional democracy. entrepreneurs to develop new and Vulnerable to attacks
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innovative services or products to the total tax receipts in a particular benefit citizens. period or any information collected It also suggested a separate national during execution of all publicly funded legislation and a separate authority works has been kept under the to oversee non-personal data. umbrella of public non-personal What is non-personal data? data. In its most basic form, non-personal Any data identifiers about a set of data is any set of data which does not people who have either the same contain personally identifiable geographic location, religion, job, or information. This in essence means other common social interests will that no individual or living person can form the community non-personal be identified by looking at such data. data. For example, the metadata For example, while order details collected by ride-hailing apps, telecom collected by a food delivery service will companies, electricity distribution have the name, age, gender, and other companies among others have been contact information of an individual, it put under the community non- will become non-personal data if the personal data category by the identifiers such as name and contact committee. information are taken out. Private non-personal data can be Significance of Non Personal data defined as those which are produced Non Personal data can be useful in by individuals which can be derived either framing public policy or from application of proprietary creating and providing new software or knowledge. services. For example, How sensitive can non-personal data Aggregate data from land registries be? can tell us a lot about land use Unlike personal data, which contains patterns. explicit information about a person’s Data related to traffic flows can be name, age, gender, sexual orientation, used to guide traffic management. biometrics and other genetic details, Non-personal data are also viewed as non-personal data is more likely to be critical for development of the in an anonymised form. Artificial Intelligence ecosystem. However, in certain categories such as Classification data related to national security or The Gopalakrishnan committee has strategic interests such as locations classified non-personal data into three of government laboratories or main categories, namely public non- research facilities, even if provided in personal data, community non- anonymised form can be dangerous. personal data and private non- Similarly, even if the data is about the personal data. health of a community or a group of Depending on the source of the data communities, though it may be in and whether it is anonymised in a way anonymised form, it can still be that no individual can be re-identified dangerous, the committee opined. from the data set, the three categories Possibilities of such harm are much have been divided. higher if the original personal data is of What are public, community, and a sensitive nature. Therefore, the private non-personal data sets? committee recommended that non- All the data collected by government personal data arising from such and its agencies such as census, data sensitive personal data may be collected by municipal corporations on
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considered as sensitive non-personal hypersonic speed flight, developed data. by India's DRDO. What areas does India’s non-personal HSTDV is not a weapon itself but is data draft miss? being developed as a carrier vehicle Though the non-personal data draft is for hypersonic and long-range a pioneer in identifying the power, cruise missiles. role, and usage of anonymised data, The HSTDV cruise vehicle is mounted there are certain aspects such as on a solid rocket motor, which takes it community non-personal data, where to a required altitude. Once it attains the draft could have been clearer. certain mach numbers for speed, the Non-personal data often constitutes cruise vehicle is ejected out of the protected trade secrets and often launch vehicle. After that, the scramjet raises significant privacy concerns. engine is ignited automatically. The paper proposes the nebulous What is a scramjet engine? concept of community data while A scramjet engine is an improvement failing to adequately provide for over the ramjet engine because the community rights. former operates efficiently at The final draft of the non-personal data hypersonic speeds and allows governance framework must clearly supersonic combustion. define the roles for all participants, Ramjets, in contrast, operate well at such as the data principal, the data supersonic speeds around Mach 3 but custodian, and data trustees. their efficiency drops at hypersonic Conclusion speeds (Mach 5 and above). Since data governance is a relatively The HSTDV has an air-breathing new concept in India, the government scramjet engine which means that it would be better served in taking an uses atmospheric oxygen for incremental approach to any perceived propulsion. problems. Launch vehicles use combustion of This should begin with reforming how propellants consisting of oxidiser and the government itself deals with fuel for deriving energy. Air breathing citizens’ data. propulsion systems use atmospheric oxygen, which is available up to about 3) Hypersonic Technology 50 km of earth’s surface to burn the Demonstrator Vehicle fuel stored on-board thereby making What’s in the news? the system much lighter, more India conducted a successful test flight efficient and cost effective. of the indigenously developed Air breathing propulsion is a solution Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator for a powered long return cruise Vehicle (HSTDV), powered by a flight necessary for reusable launch scramjet engine. The air-breathing vehicles. scramjet engine was successfully What makes HSTDV a breakthrough? flight-tested at hypersonic speed Hypersonic missiles are termed as "a within the atmosphere. new class of military threat" as these What is HSTDV? are capable of maneuvering and flying The Hypersonic Technology faster than 5,000 kilometers per hour. Demonstrator Vehicle is an unmanned The speed and maneuverability enable scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic missiles to penetrate most missile defenses, and further
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compress the timelines for a response BrahMos is classified as a supersonic by a nation under attack. cruise missile. The only countries in the world which It operates on the "Fire and Forget" have hypersonic technology are the principle i.e it does not require further United States of America, Russia and guidance after launch. China. BrahMos currently has a range of 290 While India joined this exclusive club, km, but efforts are also on to extend other countries in the process of this to 400 km. developing similar tech are Japan, Various versions of the BrahMos, Australia, and Europe. including those which can be fired In addition to war applications, India from land, warships, submarines and will also use HSTDV for multiple Sukhoi-30 fighter jets have already civilian applications including been developed and successfully tested missiles of the future for air defence, in the past. surveillance and reconnaissance Why in News? besides in the development of energy- DRDO has successfully test-fired the efficient, low cost and reusable BrahMos surface-to-surface cruise satellite-launch vehicles. missile with an indigenous booster, How fast is HSTDV? along with other sub-systems made HSTDV can cruise at a speed of Mach within the country. 6, or six times the speed of sound, and rise up to an altitude of 32.5 km in just 5) Scrub Typhus Attack 20 seconds. About Scrub Typhus When DRDO tested the HSDTV with Scrub typhus, also known as bush the help of Agni missile boosters, it typhus, is a disease that spreads to successfully achieved an altitude of people through bites of larval mites. over 30,000 ft in just 22 seconds at a The symptoms include fever, headache, speed of Mach 6. rashes and bodyache. The illness is caused by the bacteria 4) BrahMos missile called Orienta Tsutsugamushi. About BrahMos Missile Most cases of scrub typhus occur in BrahMos is the supersonic cruise rural areas of Southeast Asia, missile jointly developed by Defence Indonesia, China, Japan, India, and Research and Development northern Australia. Organisation (DRDO) of India and More than 50 per cent of the people NPOM of Russia. who get this disease die, if not given BrahMos is an amalgamation of the immediate medical attention. names of the rivers Brahmaputra of Scrub typhus is treated with the India and Moskva of Russia. antibiotic doxycycline. BrahMos is a two-stage missile with Why in News? solid propellant booster as first stage An outbreak of scrub typhus has and liquid ramjet as the second stage. claimed the lives of five people in Being a cruise missile it can be guided Nagaland’s Noklak district. towards a predetermined land- or sea-based target. 6) Astrosat With a capability to attain speeds 2.8 About Astrosat times that of sound (Mach 2.8), ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi wavelength space
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observatory. This scientific satellite The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), mission endeavours for a more commonly referred to as Mangalyaan- detailed understanding of our 1, is a space probe launched by the universe. Indian Space Research Organization ASTROSAT is designed to observe the (ISRO) on November 5, 2013. universe in the Visible, Ultraviolet, The indigenously-built space probe, low and high energy X-ray regions of which is India's first interplanetary the electromagnetic spectrum mission, has been in the Martian orbit simultaneously with the help of its since September 24, 2014. five payloads. India is the first Asian nation to AstroSat with a lift-off mass of 1515 kg reach the Mars orbit and the first in was launched in 2015 into a 650 km the world to achieve it on its first orbit inclined at an angle of 6 deg to attempt. the equator by PSLV-C30 from Satish Objective Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The objective of the mission is to The minimum useful life of the explore Martian surface features, AstroSat mission is expected to be 5 mineralogy, morphology and years. atmosphere using indigenous scientific The scientific objectives of ASTROSAT instruments. mission are: The mission also aims to develop To understand high energy technologies required in planning, processes in binary star systems designing, management and operations containing neutron stars and black of an interplanetary mission. holes; Initially planned for a lifetime of 6 Estimate magnetic fields of neutron months, ISRO extended the mission stars; in April 2015 because of the adequate Study star birth regions and high quantity of fuel still left in the energy processes in star systems spacecraft. lying beyond our galaxy; Description Detect new briefly bright X-ray MOM was launched aboard PSLV C-25 sources in the sky; (an XL version of the PSLV). Perform a limited deep field survey It carried 5 science payloads. They of the Universe in the Ultraviolet are: region. Mars Colour Camera (MCC) Why in News? Thermal Infrared Imaging AstroSat has detected extreme-UV light Spectrometer (TIS) from a galaxy located 9.3 billion light- Methane Sensor for Mars (MSM) years away from Earth. Mars Exospheric Neutral The galaxy called AUDFs01 was Composition Analyser (MENCA) discovered by a team from the Inter- Lyman Alpha Photometer (LAP) University Centre for Astronomy and Achievements of MOM Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune. The MOM orbiter has helped India’s This discovery is a very important clue space agency prepare a Martian Atlas to how the dark ages of the Universe based on the images provided by the ended and there was light in the orbiter. Universe. Phobos and Deimos, the two moons of Mars, were also imaged from close 7) Mars Orbiter Mission distances by the Mars Colour Camera About the Mission (MCC).
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An important conclusion of the mission Using openly accessible satellite data has been the finding that dust storms and a cloud computing platform, an on the Martian can raise up to international team has now developed hundreds of kilometres. a powerful tool for a near real-time Why in News? mapping of flood extent. ISRO’s Mangalyaan mission has Flood inundation maps or maps completed six years of orbiting Mars. showing where flooding may occur can ISRO is also planning to send its second help in better flood risk preparedness. Mars mission, Mangalyaan-2, after the How does the tool work? launch of Chandrayaan-3, India's Space-based sensors known as upcoming Moon mission. synthetic aperture radar (SAR) have been used widely for monitoring and 8) Cyanobacteria behind mapping of flood-water inundation. elephants death SAR is capable of acquiring data in all- What are cyanobacteria? weather condition, making it useful for Cyanobacteria, also known as blue- mapping and monitoring flood green algae, are found worldwide inundation areas. especially in calm, nutrient-rich These sensors operate on the waters. constellation of two SAR satellites Some species of cyanobacteria produce belonging to the Copernicus toxins that affect animals and humans. Programme launched by the People may be exposed to European Space Agency. cyanobacterial toxins by drinking or The data from the satellites was bathing in contaminated water. utilised on a cloud-based platform Symptoms include skin irritation, known as Google Earth Engine (GEE) stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, for the rapid processing of big data. diarrhoea, fever, sore throat, headache. Results Animals, birds, and fish can also be The team studied water inundation poisoned by high levels of toxin- maps from 2015 and their analysis was producing cyanobacteria. clearly able to show the areas Why in News? submerged underwater in 2018. The team notes the new flood inundation In Botswana's Okavango Delta, over maps showed an accuracy of over 300 elephants mysteriously found 94%. dead in 2020. This mysterious mass
death of elephants had raised alarm The water inundation maps can help across the world. swiftly deploying the rescue team and rescue operations can be started The Botswana government recently immediately. figured out that the elephant deaths were due to ingesting toxin-producing Cloud computing platforms and cyanobacteria at waterholes. satellite data are also being used by researchers for landslide prediction, Scientists warn that climate change drought forecasting, crop may be making these incidents - monitoring and avalanche known as toxic blooms - more likely, forecasting. because they favour warm water. Additional Details What is cloud computing? 9) Cloud computing for better Cloud computing is the delivery of flood inundation mapping different services through the Internet. What’s in the news? These resources include tools and
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applications like data storage, servers, About Venus databases, networking, and software. Venus, the second world from the sun, Rather than keeping files on a has long been considered Earth’s proprietary hard drive or local storage twin. It’s about the same size as our device, cloud-based storage makes it home planet, with similar gravity and possible to save them to a remote composition. database. As long as an electronic Venus is wrapped in a thick, toxic device has access to the web, it has atmosphere that traps in heat. Surface access to the data and the software temperatures reach a scorching 880 programs to run it. degrees Fahrenheit (471 degrees Cloud computing is a popular option Celsius), hot enough to melt lead. for people and businesses for a European Space Agency’s mission, number of reasons including cost Venus Express, found signs of ozone, savings, increased productivity, made of three oxygen atoms and speed and efficiency, performance, considered a biomarker, in the upper and security. atmosphere of Venus, in 2011. Synthetic Aperture Radar Why in News? Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) refers Scientists have detected traces of to a technique for producing fine- phosphine in Venus that indicates resolution images from a resolution- microbes may inhabit Earth's limited radar system. inhospitable neighbour. SAR systems take advantage of the About phosphine gas long-range propagation characteristics Phosphine, a highly toxic compound of of radar signals and the complex one phosphorous atom and three information processing capability of hydrogen atoms, is given out by some modern digital electronics to provide microbes during biochemical high resolution imagery. processes. Copernicus program On Earth, it is made naturally by some Copernicus is the European system species of anaerobic bacteria— for monitoring the Earth and is organisms that live in the oxygen- coordinated and managed by the starved environments of landfills, European Commission in partnership marshlands, and even animal guts. with the European Space Agency Used as a chemical weapon during (ESA). World War I, phosphine is still It consists of a complex set of systems manufactured as an agricultural which collect data from multiple fumigant, and is used in the sources: earth observation satellites semiconductor industry. and in situ sensors such as ground About the findings stations, airborne sensors, and sea- Venus should be hostile to phosphine. borne sensors. Its surface and atmosphere are rich in It processes these data and provides oxygen compounds that would rapidly users with accurate, timely and easily react with and destroy phosphine. accessible information to improve the Still, the researchers estimate that management of the environment, phosphine forms about 20 parts per understand and mitigate the effects of billion of Venus’s atmosphere, a climate change and ensure civil tantalizing sign of potential life beyond security. Earth. However, it’s too early to conclude that 10) Venus and life life exists beyond Earth’s shores.
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Scientists caution that the detection Challenges in probing Venus itself needs to be verified, as the High surface temperature phosphine fingerprint described in the Dense atmosphere (due to the study could be a false signal introduced presence of carbon dioxide) by the telescopes or by data Presence of sulphuric acid in the processing. atmosphere of Venus makes it a highly India’s mission to Venus corrosive environment. Shukrayaan-1 is a proposed orbiter to Way forward Venus by the Indian Space Research International collaborations can help Organisation (ISRO) to study the probe efficiently the dense atmosphere surface and atmosphere of Venus using of Earth’s neighbour. GSLV Mark III. It is expected to be launched in 2024.
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Reports and Indices 1) State Startup Ranking 2019 What’s in the news? The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released the results of the second edition of States’ Startup Ranking Exercise. DPIIT conducted the ranking exercise with the key objective to foster competitiveness and propel States and Union Territories to work proactively towards uplifting the startup ecosystem. The ranking exercise aims to evaluate measures taken by states and union territories during the assessment Highlights of the Report period from May 1, 2018 to June 30, Karnataka and Kerala have emerged 2019. as the top performers, while Gujarat Parameters was ranked as the best performer in The States’ Startup Ranking States' Startup Ranking 2019. Framework 2019 has 7 broad reform Besides, Karnataka was also areas, consisting of 30 action points recognised as an institutional leader, ranging from Institutional Support, regulatory change champion, Easing Compliances, Relaxation in procurement leader and incubation Public Procurement norms, Incubation hub. support, Seed Funding Support, The states in the leader category are Venture Funding Support, and Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Bihar, Awareness & Outreach. and Chandigarh. In the aspiring leaders To establish uniformity and ensure category, states like Telangana, standardization in the ranking process, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Jharkhand, States and UTs have been divided into Punjab, and Nagaland were included. two groups. o UTs except Delhi and all States in 2) Digital Education Divide North East India except Assam are What’s in the news? placed in Category ‘Y’. A recent report on the latest National o All other States and UT of Delhi Statistical Organisation (NSO) survey are in Category ‘X’. shows just how stark is the digital A total of 22 States and 3 Union divide across States, cities and villages, Territories participated in the and income groups. exercise. The survey on household social For the purposes of Ranking, States are consumption related to education was classified into 5 Categories: Best part of the NSO’s 75th round, Performers, Top Performers, Leaders, conducted from July 2017 to June Aspiring Leaders and Emerging 2018. Startup Ecosystems. Key Findings of the survey
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Across India, only one in ten than one in five Indians above 7 years households have a computer — still cannot read and write in any whether a desktop, laptop or tablet. language. Almost 25% of all homes have Over the last decade, literacy rates Internet facilities, accessed via a fixed have increased from 71.7% to or mobile network using any device, 77.7%, with the highest gains coming including smartphones. among rural women. Most of the Internet-enabled homes About NSO are located in cities, where 42% have The National Statistical Office is the Internet access. In rural India, Statistics Wing of the Ministry of however, only 15% are connected to Statistics and Programme the internet. Implementation. 20% of Indians above the age of 5 In 2019, the central government years had basic digital literacy and just merged the Central Statistical 40% in the critical age group of 15 to Organisation (CSO) and National 29 years, which includes all high Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) school and college students as well as into the National Statistical young parents responsible for teaching Organisation. younger children. NSO is mandated with the following Delhi has the highest Internet access, responsibilities:- with 55% of homes having such 1. Acts as the nodal agency for facilities. Himachal Pradesh and planned development of the Kerala are the only other States where statistical system in the country more than half of all households have 2. Compiles and releases the index of Internet. industrial production (iip) every Odisha is at the bottom with only one month and conducts the annual in ten homes having Internet. survey of industries (asi); There is less than 20% Internet 3. Organizes and conducts periodic penetration, even in States with all-india economic censuses software hubs such as Karnataka and 4. Prepares national accounts as well Tamil Nadu. as publishes annual estimates of Digital divide national product, government and The biggest divide is by economic private consumption expenditure, status, which the NSO marks by capital formation, savings, etc. As dividing the population into five equal also the state level gross capital groups, or quintiles, based on their formation of supra-regional sectors usual monthly per capita expenditure. and prepares comparable estimates Kerala shows the least inequality with of state domestic product (sdp) at more than 39% of the poorest rural current prices; homes having Internet, in comparison to 67% of the richest urban homes. 3) Global Innovation Index Assam shows the starkest inequality, About the Index with almost 80% of the richest urban Global Innovation Index (GII) is co- homes having the Internet access published annually by Cornell denied to 94% of those in the poorest University, INSEAD Business School, rural homes in the State. and the World Intellectual Property Even as digital literacy is likely to grow Organization (WIPO), a specialized during this pandemic, concerns agency of the United Nations. remain about basic literacy. More
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GII ranks global economies The official statement noted that NITI according to their innovation Aayog has been working tirelessly to capabilities, including roughly 80 ensure optimisation of national efforts indicators, grouped into innovation in this direction by bringing policy-led inputs and outputs. innovation in different areas such as The metrics include institutions, electric vehicles, biotechnology, human capital and research, nanotechnology, space and alternative infrastructure, market sophistication energy sources. and business sophistication, The India Innovation Index, which knowledge and technology outputs and was released last year by the NITI creative outputs. Aayog, has been widely accepted as Why in News? the major step in the direction of The Global Innovation Index 2020 was decentralization of innovation across released recently. all the states of India. Highlights of the Index India has been ranked 48th on the GII 4) Living Planet Report 2020 2020 among 131 economies, breaking About Living Planet Report into the top 50 countries for the first Every two years, the World Wide time. Fund for Nature (WWF) publishes the India occupied the 52nd position in Living Planet Report in association 2019 and was ranked 81st in the year with the Zoological Society of London. 2015. It is a science-based analysis on the As per the latest rankings, India is the health of our planet and the impact of third most innovative lower-middle- human activity. income economy. o WWF is an international non- Switzerland, Sweden, US, UK and governmental organization founded Netherlands are in the top spots of this in 1961 that works in the field of year's ranking. wilderness preservation and the How India fared? reduction of human impact on the Three ‘clusters’ — Bengaluru, Delhi environment. and Mumbai — feature in the top 100 Why in News? science & technology hotspots, further The Living Planet Report 2020 was endorsing India’s presence in the released on September 10, 2020. global innovation economy. The biennial report is based on the The WIPO had also accepted India as global dataset analysed between 1970 one of the leading innovation and 2016. achievers of 2019 in the central and Highlights of the Report southern Asian region, as it has Massive reduction in wildlife shown a consistent improvement in populations its innovation ranking for the last 5 The global wildlife populations have years. declined by an average 68% in over India increased the most in three four decades between 1970 and 2016. pillars: Institutions, business Environmental degradation, climate sophistication and creative outputs. change, overexploitation of species, However, India continued to lag in invasive species and population are the infrastructure. Also, it scored low in major contributing factors in the human capital and research. decline in biodiversity. Measures by India Freshwater species were the most affected with an 84% decline in their
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populations. One out of every three 1998, Serial Acute Respiratory freshwater species was threatened Syndrome or SARS in China in 2003 with extinction and species with larger and many others. body size, called megafauna, were Scenario in India more at risk than smaller ones. India has 2.4 per cent global land Further, the rate of decline of wildlife share, about eight per cent global populations is different across biodiversity and around 16 per cent various regions. Biodiversity in Latin global population. There is an America and the Caribbeans was the enormous human footprint, which in worst affected with a 94% drop, while turn is affecting biodiversity. in Europe and Central Asia the decline Vertebrate population has been was the least at 24%. There was a 33% declining at a rate of about 60 per cent slump in North America, 65% in Africa in India, a figure close to the global and 45% in the Asia-Pacific region. benchmark. Major causes Almost a third of Indian wetlands It cited that human activity was the have been affected under combined major factor behind the decline of pressure of urbanisation, agricultural wildlife populations. To feed and fuel activities and pollution. our 21st century lifestyles, we are While India’s ecological footprint overusing the Earth’s biocapacity by per person is less than 1.6 global at least 56%. hectares (gha) / person (smaller than Agriculture, including expansion or that of many large countries), its high intensification of crop or livestock population size has made the gross farming, plantations and aquaculture, footprint significantly high. is the most frequently identified threat India has a bio-capacity of to plants in IUCN [International Union approximately 0.45 gha per person, for Conservation of Nature] Red List which means it is a ‘bio-capacity assessments. debtor’ or an ‘ecologically deficit Habitat destruction and land use country’ with a 148 per cent more changes, mainly urbanisation and demand than supply on its natural agriculture-related, are the major resources. causes reported for plant extinctions. Way Forward Fishing was the largest factor affecting The report urged that protecting the ocean’s biodiversity, followed by biodiversity was more than an ethical climate change, pollution and coastal commitment, and that it was non- development, among others. negotiable for the survival of Link with infectious diseases humanity as nature and humans are About 60% of infectious diseases intertwined. The report also pointed come from animals and nearly two- out that biodiversity was important for thirds of them are wild animals. food security. The emergence of these diseases is The report cited measures that can be driven by anthropogenic changes taken to protect wildlife, including such as deforestation and the forming strategies at the national level, expansion of agricultural land, the ranging from dietary changes to land- intensification of livestock production, use conservation. and the increased harvesting of It underscores the need for a global wildlife. New Deal for Nature and People with This was the reason behind the clear, ambitious goals, to see us on the outbreak of Nipah virus in Malaysia in path to recovery by 2030.
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Polity 1) National Human Rights knowledge of, or practical experience Commission in, matters relating to human rights About NHRC In addition, the Chairpersons of The National Human Rights National Commissions viz., National Commission (NHRC) is a statutory Commission for Scheduled Castes, organisation established in 1993 National Commission for Scheduled under the Protection of Human Rights Tribes, National Commission for Act (PHRA), 1993. Women, National Commission for The Act also created Human Rights Minorities, National Commission for Commissions at the levels of the Backward Classes, National various States. Commission for Protection of Child NHRC was established in conformity Rights; and the Chief Commissioner for with the Paris Principles, adopted at Persons with Disabilities serve as ex the first international workshop on officio members. national institutions for the promotion The term of the Chairperson and and protection of human rights held in Members of the Commission is three Paris in 1991, and endorsed by the years or until he attains the age of General Assembly of the United seventy years, whichever is earlier. Nations in 1993. They shall be eligible for re- Functions of NHRC appointment. The NHRC enquiries into complaints of They can be removed only on the violation of human rights or negligence charges of proved misbehavior or in the prevention of such violation by a incapacity, if proved by an inquiry public servant, studies treaties and conducted by a Supreme Court Judge. international instruments on human Limitations of NHRC rights and makes recommendations for As per the Protection of Human Rights their effective implementation to the Act, the NHRC can only recommend Government. the government but the It is responsible for spreading human recommendations are non-binding. rights awareness amongst the masses. This lack of authority gives an outright While inquiring into complaints under rejection of any recommendation or the Act, the Commission shall have all partial compliance. the powers of a civil court. Under the Act, human rights Composition of NHRC commissions cannot investigate an According to the Protection of event if the complaint was made more Human Rights (Amendment) Act, than one year after the incident. 2019, the NHRC consists of Therefore, a large number of genuine A Chairperson, who has been a Chief grievances go unaddressed. Justice of India or a Judge of the State human rights commissions Supreme Court cannot call for information from the One member who is, or has been, a national government, which means Judge of the Supreme Court of India that they are implicitly denied the One member who is, or has been, the power to investigate armed forces Chief Justice of a High Court under national control. Three Members, out of which at least Also, the National Human Rights one shall be a woman to be appointed Commission powers related to from amongst persons having violations of human rights by the
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armed forces have been largely In case the government fails to prove restricted. its majority, then the government has Another major problem is that it is to resign. flooded with too many complaints, J.B. Kripalani moved the first-ever no- and is finding it difficult to address the confidence motion in August 1963 increasing number of complaints. against the Nehru government after Why in News? the India-China war. The National Human Rights Why in News? Commission has sought an action- The no-confidence motion moved by taken report within four weeks from the Opposition in the Karnataka the Centre and the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly against Chief government on a complaint by Bhopal Minister B.S. Yediyurappa was gas tragedy survivors demanding the defeated by a voice vote monthly pension of ₹1,000 to each widow of victims that was 3) National Medical Commission discontinued in December 2019. Act, 2019 Background 2) No-confidence motion The Medical Council of India (MCI) is What is a no-confidence motion? responsible for regulating medical Article 75 of the Indian Constitution education and practice. Over the years, states that the Council of Ministers there have been several issues with the shall be collectively responsible to the functioning of the MCI with respect to Lok Sabha. its regulatory role, composition, A no-confidence motion is usually allegations of corruption, and lack of moved by the opposition when it feels accountability. that the ruling government does not National Medical Commission Act, 2019 enjoy a majority in the House any The Act repeals the Indian Medical longer. Council Act, 1956 and dissolves the No reason is required to move such a MCI. motion. It can be moved against the The Act sets up the National Medical entire council of ministers only (and Commission (NMC) as an umbrella not against the individual regulatory body with certain other ministers). bodies under it. The NMC will A no-confidence motion can be moved subsume the MCI and will regulate by any member of the house and can medical education and practice in be done only in the Lok Sabha and India. not in the Rajya Sabha. States will establish their respective Procedure State Medical Councils within three There is no mention of a No- years. These Councils will have a role Confidence Motion in the Constitution similar to the NMC, at the state level. of India. Such a motion is moved under Functions of the NMC include: (i) Rule 198 of the Rules of Procedure laying down policies for regulating and conduct of Lok Sabha. medical institutions and medical A minimum of 50 members have to professionals, (ii) assessing the accept the motion and the Speaker requirements of human resources and would accordingly announce the date infrastructure in healthcare, (iii) for the discussion on the motion. A no- ensuring compliance by the State confidence motion needs a majority Medical Councils with the regulations vote to pass the House. made under the Bill, and (iv) framing
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guidelines for determination of fee for certain mid-level practitioners called up to 50% of the seats in the private community health providers, medical institutions. connected with the modern medical Who will be a part of the NMC? profession to practice medicine. The Act replaces the MCI with the These mid-level medical practitioners NMC, whose members will be may prescribe specific medicines in nominated. The NMC will consist of 25 primary and preventive members. healthcare. However, in any other Of these 25 members, at least 15 cases, these practitioners may only (60%) are medical practitioners. prescribe medicine under the What are the regulatory bodies being supervision of a registered medical set up under the NMC? practitioner. The Act sets up four autonomous Why in News? boards under the supervision of the The National Medical Commission, in NMC. place of the Medical Council of India, as 1. The Under-Graduate Medical the country's apex regulator of medical Education Board (UGMEB) education and profession has come 2. The Post-Graduate Medical into existence recently. Education Board (PGMEB) 3. The Medical Assessment and Rating 4) Members of Parliament Local Board Area Development Scheme 4. The Ethics and Medical Registration About the Scheme Board The Members of Parliament Local Area How is the Act changing the eligibility Development Scheme (MPLADS) is guidelines for doctors to practice meant to enable Members of medicine? Parliament to recommend works of There will be a uniform National developmental nature with emphasis Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for on creation of durable community admission to under-graduate and assets based on locally felt needs to postgraduate superspeciality medical be taken up in their constituencies in education in all medical institutions. the area of national priorities namely Further, the Act introduces a common drinking water, education, public final year undergraduate examination health, sanitation, roads etc. called the National Exit Test for The Ministry of Statistics and students graduating from medical Programme Implementation has institutions to obtain the license for been responsible for the policy practice. This test will also serve as formulation, release of funds and the basis for admission into post- prescribing monitoring mechanism for graduate courses at medical implementation of the Scheme. institutions. Features How does the Act regulate community The MPLADS is fully funded by the health providers? Government of India. The annual As of January 2018, the doctor to MPLADS fund entitlement per MP population ratio in India was 1:1655 constituency is Rs. 5 crore. compared to the World Health Funds under the MPLADS are non- Organisation standard of 1:1000. lapsable. To fill in the gaps of availability of Lok Sabha Members can recommend medical professionals, the Act provides works within their Constituencies and for the NMC to grant limited license to Elected Members of Rajya Sabha can
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recommend works within the State of completed, etc) should be made Election (with select available to citizens under the Right to exceptions). Nominated Members of Information Act. both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha At least 10% of the projects under can recommend works anywhere in implementation in the district are to be the country. inspected every year by the district All works to meet locally felt authority. infrastructure and development needs, Why in News? with an emphasis on creation of In June 2020, the government durable assets in the constituency are announced suspension of MPLADS for permissible under MPLADS as two years, due to the COVID-19 prescribed in the scheme guidelines. pandemic. The MPLADS funds can be merged Members of several parties have been with other schemes such as MGNREGA demanding the restoration of the and Khelo India. suspended MPLAD Scheme Fund. Allocation for SC & ST Rationale behind the suspension of The guidelines recommend MPs to MPLADS suggest works costing at least 15 per Suspension of the MPLAD Scheme will cent of their MPLADS entitlement for make Rs 7,800 crore available to the the year for areas inhabited by government which will go to the Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 Consolidated Fund of India to fight per cent for areas inhabited by COVID-19 . Scheduled Tribe population. Arguments against the suspension of In case there is insufficient tribal MPLADS population in the area of Lok Sabha It will adversely impact grass-root Member, they may recommend this level work as the MPLAD is meant to amount for the creation of community execute development work in the assets in tribal areas outside of their constituency, suspending it is a huge constituency but within their State of disservice to the constituents and will election. undermine the role and functions of Implementation MPs. Under MPLADS, the role of the MPs is During the times of COVID-19 limited only upto recommendation of pandemic, MPLADS funds could have works. Thereafter, it is the been used for procurement of such responsibility of the District supplies that will help in fighting Authority to sanction, execute and against the disease. complete the works recommended by By suspending MPLADS, the Members of Parliament within the government will take away the stipulated time. expenditure which would attend to The District Authority shall identify the unique requirements of an area. This Implementing Agency capable of centralisation goes against executing the eligible work federalism, development. qualitatively, timely and satisfactorily. As the scheme attempts to address It shall be responsible for timely and large variations in infrastructure effective implementation of such across the states, the suspension will works. make it difficult to reduce inequality Information on MPLADS (the number in development. and cost of works sanctioned, MPLADS has enabled MPs to play a implementing agencies, projects leadership role in the
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developmental process of his to include the legal heir and successor constituency and sort out its day-to- of an enemy and the succeeding firm of day problems. an enemy firm. The thrust of the amendments was to 5) Enemy Property guard against claims of succession or What is “enemy property”? transfer of properties left by people In the wake of the India-Pakistan wars who migrated to Pakistan and China of 1965 and 1971, there was migration after the wars. The amendments of people from India to Pakistan. Under denied legal heirs any right over the Defence of India Rules framed enemy property. under The Defence of India Act, 1962, The Custodian, with prior approval of the Government of India took over the central government, may dispose the properties and companies of of enemy properties vested in him in those who took Pakistani accordance with the provisions of the nationality. Act, and the government may issue Some movable properties too, are directions to the Custodian for this categorised as enemy properties. purpose. These “enemy properties” were vested Why in News? by the central government in the Nilesh Shah, a part-time member of the Custodian of Enemy Property for Economic Advisory Council to the India (a statutory authority under the Prime Minister, said that India should Ministry of Home Affairs). The same look at selling enemy properties was done for property left behind by valued at over ₹1 lakh crore to take those who went to China after the care of the current expenditure which 1962 Sino-Indian war. will drive growth. The Tashkent Declaration of January He said the assets were valued at ₹1 10, 1966 included a clause that said lakh crore three years ago and this is India and Pakistan would discuss the the best time to remove return of the property and assets taken encroachments and clear title over by either side in connection with deficiencies to sell such properties. the conflict. Related Information However, the Government of Pakistan EAC-PM disposed of all such properties in their Economic Advisory Council to the country in the year 1971 itself. Prime Minister (EAC-PM) is a non- How did India deal with enemy constitutional, non-permanent and property? independent body constituted to give The Enemy Property Act, enacted in advice on economic and related issues 1968, provided for the continuous to the Government of India, specifically vesting of enemy property in the to the Prime Minister. Custodian of Enemy Property for The Terms of Reference of EAC-PM India. The Central government, include analyzing any issue, economic through the Custodian, is in possession or otherwise, referred to it by the of enemy properties spread across Prime Minister and advising him many states in the country. thereon, addressing issues of In 2017, Parliament passed The macroeconomic importance and Enemy Property (Amendment and presenting views thereon to the Prime Validation) Act, 2017, which Minister. expanded the definition of the term “enemy subject”, and “enemy firm”
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These could be either suo-motu or on Sabha) are the final authority with reference from the Prime Minister or respect to the conduct of Question anyone else. Hour. The chairman is appointed from time Question Hour is strictly regulated and to time when the body is constituted. mentioned in the rules of procedure. 6) Question Hour and Zero Hour Significance About Question Hour The ‘Question Hour’ is an important Generally, the first hour of the part of the parliamentary proceedings parliamentary sitting is slotted for and has assumed greater importance the Question Hour. During this one because the members can elicit hour, Members of Parliament (MPs) information through questions on ask questions to ministers and hold matters affecting the day-to-day life them accountable for the functioning of the citizens for which Ministers are of their ministries. collectively answerable to the The questions are of three kinds, legislature. namely, starred, unstarred and short Asking questions of the government notice. has a long history in our legislative 1. A starred question (distinguished bodies. Prior to Independence, the first by an asterisk) requires an oral question asked of the government was answer and hence supplementary in 1893. It was on the burden cast on questions can follow. village shopkeepers who had to 2. An unstarred question requires a provide supplies to touring written answer and hence, government officers. supplementary questions cannot This parliamentary device is primarily follow. meant for exercising a kind of 3. A short notice question is one that legislative control over executive is asked by giving a notice of less actions. Members’ questions have than ten days. It is answered orally. exposed financial irregularities and In addition to the ministers, the brought data and information questions can also be asked to the regarding government functioning to private members (MPs who are not the public domain. ministers). With the broadcasting of Question Question Hour in both Houses is held Hour since 1991, Question Hour has on all days of the session. But there become one the most visible aspects of are two days when an exception is parliamentary functioning. made. Besides, the Members also find an 1. There is no Question Hour on the opportunity through this device to day the President addresses MPs criticise Government's policies and from both Houses in the Central programmes; ventilate public Hall. The President’s speech takes grievances; expose Government's place at the beginning of a new Lok lapses; and extract promises from Sabha and on the first day of a new Ministers. Parliament year. About Zero Hour 2. Question Hour is not scheduled Unlike the question hour, the zero hour either on the day the Finance is not mentioned in the Rules of Minister presents the Budget. Procedure. Regulation: The presiding officers of Thus it is an informal device available the both Houses (Rajya Sabha and Lok to the members of the Parliament to
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raise matters without any prior while having immunity from being notice. prosecuted. The zero hour starts immediately The law has been repealed where after the question hour and lasts insurgencies have subsided, and when until the agenda for the day (i.e., governments have gained confidence regular business of the House) is taken in managing the region using the police up. force. It is an Indian innovation in the field Critics both in India and abroad have of parliamentary procedures and has criticised government agencies for been in existence since 1962. acting with impunity under AFSPA. Why in News? Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila had The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha been on a 16-year hunger strike in secretariats notified that there will be protest against AFSPA. The Jeevan no Question Hour during the Monsoon Reddy Committee formed in 2004 has Session of Parliament, in view of the recommended a complete repeal of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that Zero law. Hour will be restricted in both Houses. Why in News? Assam has been declared as Disturbed 7) Armed Forces Special Powers Area for another 6 months with effect Act from 28th of August under the Armed About AFSPA Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. Passed in 1958 for the North-East and The decision was taken in view of the in 1990 for Jammu & Kashmir, the attacks on security forces by militants Armed Forces Special Powers Act during the last 6 months in the North (AFSPA) gives armed forces special East and recovery of illegal arms in powers to control “disturbed areas”, Assam. which are designated by the government when it is of the opinion 8) Supplementary grants that a region is in such a disturbed or Different types of grants dangerous condition that the use of In addition to the budget that contains armed forces in aid of civil power is the ordinary estimates of income and necessary. expenditure for one financial year, An area can be disturbed due to various other grants are made by the differences or disputes between Parliament under extraordinary or members of different religious, racial, special circumstances. language or regional groups or castes Supplementary grants or communities. It is granted when the amount The Central Government or the authorised by the Parliament through Governor of the State or the appropriation act for a particular administrator of the Union service for the current financial year is Territory can declare the whole or found to be insufficient for that year. part of the State or Union Territory as Additional grants a disturbed area. It is granted when a need has arisen Under its provisions, the armed forces during the current financial year for have been empowered to open fire, additional expenditure upon some new enter and search without warrant, service not contemplated in the budget and arrest any person who has for that year. committed a cognisable offence, all Excess grant
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It is granted when money has been 9) Foreign Contribution spent on any service during a financial (Regulation) Amendment Act, year in excess of the amount granted 2020 for that service in the budget for that About Foreign Contribution year. It is voted by the Lok Sabha after (Regulation) Act, (FCRA), 2010 the financial year. The FCRA 2010 regulates the Before the demands for excess grants acceptance and utilisation of foreign are submitted to the Lok Sabha for contribution by individuals, voting, they must be approved by the associations and companies. Foreign Public Accounts Committee of contribution is the donation or transfer Parliament. of any currency, security or article (of Vote of Credit beyond a specified value) by a foreign It is granted for meeting an unexpected source. demand upon the resources of India, The objective is to prevent use of when on account of the magnitude or foreign contribution or foreign the indefinite character of the service, hospitality for any activity detrimental the demand cannot be stated with the to the national interest. details ordinarily given in a budget. All societies, companies, Hence, it is like a blank cheque given associations and NGOs have to to the Executive by the Lok Sabha. register themselves under the FCRA Exceptional grant and fulfil definite criteria to be eligible It is granted for a special purpose and for foreign funds. forms no part of the current service or The registration is initially valid for any financial year. five years and it can be renewed Token grant subsequently if they comply with all It is granted when funds to meet the norms. proposed expenditure on a new Registered associations can receive service can be made available by foreign contributions for social, reappropriation. A demand for the educational, religious, economic and grant of a token sum (of Re 1) is cultural purposes. submitted to the vote of the Lok Sabha Filing of annual returns, on the lines of and if assented, funds are made Income Tax, is compulsory. available. Who cannot receive foreign donations? Reappropriation involves transfer of Members of the legislature and funds from one head to another. It political parties, government does not involve any additional officials, judges and media persons expenditure. are prohibited from receiving any Regulation foreign contribution. Supplementary, additional, excess and However, in 2017 the Ministry of exceptional grants and vote of credit Home Affairs (MHA), amended the are regulated by the same procedure FCRA law paving the way for political which is applicable in the case of a parties to receive funds from the regular budget. Indian subsidiary of a foreign company Why in News? or a foreign company in which an Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Indian holds 50% or more shares. tabled the first batch of Supplementary Why in News? Demands for Grants for the Financial The Parliament has passed the Foreign Year 2020-21 in the Lok Sabha. Contribution (Regulation) Amendment
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Act, 2020 which amends the Foreign Overseas Citizen of India card for Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. identification. Highlights of the 2020 Act FCRA account Prohibition to accept foreign Organisations can receive the foreign contribution funds in a bank account designated as The amendment adds public servants the ‘FCRA account’ only in branches (as defined under the Indian Penal of the State Bank of India, New Code) to the list of persons who are Delhi, as notified by the central prohibited to accept any foreign government. contribution. Reduction in use of foreign Public servant includes any person contribution for administrative who is in service or pays of the purposes government, or remunerated by the Under the 2010 Act, a person who government for the performance of receives foreign contribution must use any public duty. it only for the purpose for which the Transfer of foreign contribution contribution is received. Further, they The amendment act prohibits the must not use more than 50% of the transfer of grants received under FCRA contribution for meeting to any other person or organisation. administrative expenses. Aadhaar for registration The amendment act reduces this limit Any person seeking prior permission, to 20%. registration or renewal of registration Suspension of registration must provide the Aadhaar number of Under the 2010 Act, the government all its office bearers, directors or may suspend the registration of a key functionaries, as an person for a period not exceeding 180 identification document. days. In case of a foreigner, they must The latest amendment adds that such provide a copy of the passport or the suspension may be extended up to an additional 180 days.
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International Relations 1) Singapore Convention on Related initiative to promote ADR Mediation Mechanisms Background In order to encourage international The United Nations General Assembly commercial arbitration in India and to adopted the United Nations evolve a comprehensive ecosystem of Convention on International arbitration, the Government has Settlement Agreements Resulting passed the New Delhi International from Mediation (also known as the Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) Act, "Singapore Convention on 2019. Mediation”) in 2018. The act establishes NDIAC as a The Convention provides a uniform statutory body to conduct arbitration, and efficient framework for the mediation, and conciliation enforcement of international proceedings in the county. settlement agreements resulting The act declares the NDIAC as an from mediation. institution of national importance.
It ensures that a settlement reached by parties becomes binding and 2) India, France, Australia hold enforceable in accordance with a first trilateral dialogue simplified and streamlined procedure. What’s in the news? Why in News? India, Australia and France held talks The Singapore Convention on for the first time under a trilateral Mediation came into force recently. framework with focus on enhancing It will provide a more effective way for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a enforcing mediated settlements of region that has been witnessing corporate disputes involving increasing Chinese military businesses in India and other countries assertiveness. that are signatories to the Convention. The virtual meeting was held with the As on September 1, the Convention has objective of building on the strong 53 signatories, including India, China bilateral ties that the three countries and the U.S. share with each other and synergise What are the benefits? their respective strengths to ensure a The Convention will boost the peaceful, secure, prosperous and rules- confidence of the investors and shall based Indo-Pacific Region. provide a positive signal to foreign Outcome of the meet investors about the signatory The three sides discussed economic countries’ commitment to adhere to and geo-strategic challenges and international practice on Alternative cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, Dispute Resolution (ADR). particularly in the context of the The harmonised and simplified COVID-19 pandemic and domestic enforcement framework under the responses to the crisis. Convention translates to savings in Cooperation on marine global time and legal costs, which is commons and potential areas for important for businesses in times of practical partnership at the trilateral uncertainty, such as during the current and regional level were also discussed, COVID-19 pandemic. including through regional organisations such as ASEAN, Indian
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Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Commission. The three countries agreed to hold the dialogue on an annual basis. Related information About ASEAN The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is a regional & intergovernmental organisation of 10 countries of southeast Asia. ASEAN was established in 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). IORA is an inter-governmental organisation which was established in 1997 to strengthen regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region. IORA consists of 22 Member States (including India) and 10 Dialogue Partners. IORA became an observer to the UN General Assembly and the African Union in 2015. Decisions made within IORA are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis. The IORA Secretariat is based in Mauritius. It is headed by a fixed term Secretary-General. About IOC The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is
Its members are Thailand, Malaysia, an intergovernmental body created in Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, 1984 that coordinates maritime Singapore, Myanmar, Philippines, governance in the south-western Brunei and Vietnam. Indian Ocean. The organisation aims to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership. They work towards the progress of the southeast Asia region. About IORA
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natural, such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes or even a pandemic; or manmade, such as an armed conflict in a region — that disrupt supplies from a particular country or even intentional halts to trade, could adversely impact economic activity in the destination country. What is Japan proposing? The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus that when assembly lines are heavily dependent on It consists of five Member States: The supplies from one country (in this Union of the Comoros, France Reunion case- China), the impact on importing Island, Madagascar, Mauritius and the nations could be crippling if that Seychelles. source stops production for The IOC’s mission is to unite Member involuntary reasons, or even as a States’ forces and pool their resources, conscious measure of economic raise awareness of the special coercion. challenges that developing islands face In recent years, electrical and and promote Indianoceania as a region electronic gear, and machinery, of unique human, cultural and natural nuclear reactors and boilers were diversity. sectors that clocked up significant In 2020, India was accepted as an imports from China into Japan. observer of the Indian Ocean So, any halt to supplies (as it happened Commission. when China had to shut down factories in regions hit by the SARS-CoV-2 virus 3) Supply Chain Resilience that has caused the COVID-19 Initiative pandemic) could potentially impair economic activity in Japan. Background What does India stand to gain, or lose? With COVID-19 and trade tensions An internal push to suddenly cut between China and the United States links with China would be threatening supply chains, Japan has impractical. China’s share of imports mooted the Supply Chain Resilience into India in 2018 (considering the top Initiative (SCRI) as a trilateral 20 items supplied by China) stood at approach to trade, with India and 14.5%. In areas such as Active Australia as the other two partners. Pharmaceutical Ingredients for What does supply chain resilience medicines such as paracetamol, India mean? is fully dependent on China. In In the context of international trade, electronics, China accounts for 45% of supply chain resilience is an approach India’s imports. that helps a country to ensure that it Chinese supplies dominate segments of has diversified its supply risk across the Indian economy. Sectors that have a clutch of supplying nations instead been impacted by supply chain issues of being dependent on just one or a arising out of the pandemic include few. pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, Without such mechanisms, unanticipated events — whether
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electronics, shipping, chemicals and market and as a manufacturing base, textiles. trade experts point to the need for Over time, if India enhances self- India to accelerate progress in ease reliance or works with exporting of doing business and in skill nations other than China, it could build building. resilience into the economy’s supply Why in News? networks. India, Japan and Australia announced While India appears an attractive that the Supply Chain Resilience option for potential investors both as a Initiative would be launched soon.
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Art and Culture 1) Channapatna toys town, who have dealt a crippling blow About due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2) Kakatiya Dynasty About Kakatiya Dynasty is the south Indian Dynasty which ruled Andhra Pradesh from 1083 CE to 1323 CE. The 12th and 13th centuries saw the emergence of the Kakatiyas and they were the feudatories of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyana, ruling over a small territory near Warangal. Channapatna toys are a particular form The rule of Kakatiya Dynasty is of wooden toys (and dolls) that are considered as the most promising manufactured in the town of period of History of Telugu & Andhra Channapatna in the Ramanagara Pradesh. district of Karnataka. The Kakatiya dynasty was eventually This traditional craft is protected by conquered by the Delhi Sultanate. the geographical indication (GI) tag. Contribution As a result of the popularity of these The Rulers of the Kakatiya Dynasty had toys, Channapatna is known as great patronage for art and literature. Gombegala Ooru (toy-town) of They took initiative to promote Karnataka. Sanskrit and during this period there Channapatna toys have a 200 year old was revival of Sanskrit literature. history and are made out of wood — They were known for the soft ivory wood, teak, rubber, cedar or construction of multiple tanks for neem — and lacquered with vibrant, irrigation and drinking water. natural dyes. Most of the Kakatiya records do not Its history has been traced to the era mention the varna (social class) of of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the the family, but the majority of the ones 18th century. that do, proudly describe them as The fame of Channapatna toys was Shudra. Examples are the Bothpur built on the smooth quality and bright and Vaddamanu inscriptions of King colours of the products that were safe Ganapati's general Malyala Gunda to handle. senani. Why in News? The Kakatiyas also maintained marital Prime Minister Narendra Modi called relations with other Shudra families, upon start-ups and entrepreneurs to such as the Kotas and the Natavadi “team up for toys”, pointing out that chiefs. All these evidences indicate that India’s share in the ₹7 lakh crore global the Kakatiyas were of Shudra origin. toy market is minuscule. Some of the important constructions He asserted that the country has the under the Kakatiyas are: potential to be a hub for the industry. 1. During 1163 AD, the Thousand- Prime Minister’s thrust on going vocal Pillared Temple at Hanamkonda about local toys has sent signs of hope (now located in Telangana) was built to the artisans of the Channapatna toy by King Rudra Deva of the Kakatiya
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Dynasty. This temple is dedicated to King Ganapati Deva Siva, Vishnu and Surya, and is star- King Ganapati Deva was the supreme shaped. Every part of the temple king among all the rulers of the depicts the typical Chalukya style of Kakatiya dynasty. He played a architecture. pioneering role in consolidation of 2. Warangal fort temple: The fort was Telugu region under one rule. constructed in the 13th century in the He significantly expanded Kakatiya reign of the Kakatiya King Ganapati lands during the 1230s when he Deva. An interesting feature of launched a series of attacks outside the Warangal fort temple is there are four dynasty's traditional Telangana region gateways called 'Kirti Stambhas' and thus brought under Kakatiya which face the four cardinal points of control the Telugu-speaking lowland the compass. delta areas around the Godavari and 3. Ramappa Temple: It is a shiva temple Krishna rivers. which dates back to 1213 AD. It was Ganapati Deva was keen to bolster the built by the patronage of Ganapathi dynasty's economy. He encouraged Deva in Warangal. Marco Polo, during merchants to trade abroad, abolishing his visit to the Kakatiya Empire, all taxes except for a fixed duty and allegedly called the temple "the supporting those who risked their lives brightest star in the galaxy of temples". to travel afar. He created the man- The Ramappa temple finds its hold on made Pakhal Lake. a 6 feet high platform on a cruciform plan. The temple's chamber is crowned 3) Vallam Kali of Kerala with a shikharam and is surrounded by What is it? pradakshinapatha. At the entrance of Vallam Kali is a traditional boat race the temple, we can find a Nandi in Kerala. mandapam. An imposing Nandi It is a form of canoe racing and uses vigraham stands on it. paddled war canoes. It is mainly 4. Golconda Fort: It is located in the conducted during the season of the western part of Hyderabad city. The harvest festival Onam. fort was built by the Kakatiya dynasty The race of chundan vallam ('snake in the 13th century. Later, the Golconda boat') is the major event. Hence Vallam fort came into the possession of the Kali is also known as the snake boat Bahmani dynasty. Still later, the Qutub race. Shahi dynasty took over and made The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a Golconda its capital. popular vallam kali event held in the Why in News? Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, A temple constructed by Emperor Kerala. Ganapati Deva, a mighty ruler of Vanchipattu ('boatsong') is the form Kakatiya dynasty, in Dharanikota of poetry in Malayalam language near Andhra Pradesh capital commonly used during vallam kali and Amaravathi has been converted into related festivals. an abode of local goddess Why in News? Balusulamma (Goddess Durga). Locals have joined hands to preserve a The presiding deity at this 13th legendary snake boat that took part in century temple was Kakati Devi, the the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. tutelary deity of Kakatiya rulers. Due to ravages of time and for no upkeep, 4) Renati Chola Inscription the presiding deity got damaged. Renati Cholas
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The Telugu Cholas of Renadu (Renati Related Information Cholas) ruled over Renadu region, the Cholas present day Kadapa district of Andhra The Chola dynasty was a Tamil Pradesh. The earliest of this family dynasty that ruled primarily in was Nandivarman (500 AD). southern India until the 13th century. They were originally independent, Their core area of the rule was the later forced to the suzerainty of the Kaveri delta, later known as Eastern Chalukyas. Cholamandalam. The Cholas of Renadu claimed that The earliest datable references to the they belonged to Karikala Chola's Chola are in inscriptions from the 3rd dynasty. century BCE left by Emperor Ashoka. They are said to be the first kingdom to Karikala Chola was the most famous use Telugu in administration and among the early Chola kings. Sangam inscriptions, instead of Sanskrit. poems mention the Battle of Venni Why in News? where he defeated the confederacy of A rare inscription dating back to the Cheras, Pandyas and eleven minor Renati Chola era has been unearthed in chieftains. Trade and commerce a remote village of Kadapa district that flourished during his reign. has kindled interest among the He also founded the port city of Puhar fraternity of archaeology and history. (identical with Kaveripattinam) and Characteristics of the inscription constructed the dam Kallanai also The inscription was found engraved known as Grand Anicut. on a dolomite slab. Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola and Dolomite is a sedimentary carbonate Kulothunga Chola I were famous rock composed mostly of calcium emperors of the medieval Cholas. magnesium carbonate. Brihadisvara Temple was built by The inscription was written in archaic Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I Telugu which was readable in 25 (985-1014 AD) between 1003 AD and lines. 1010 AD. It was assigned to the 8th Century The Cholas maintained an efficient A.D., when the region was under the navy. In the conquests of Rajendra rule of Chola Maharaja of Renadu. Chola came almost the whole eastern The inscription seems to throw light on part of Sumatra, and the central and the record of a gift of six Marttus (a southern parts of the Malay measuring unit) of land gifted to a peninsula. He also occupied the Brahmin serving the temple. Some capitals of Srivijaya (Indonesia) and lines are indicative of the priority Kedah (Malaysia). given to morality in those days.
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Miscellaneous 1) Sir M Visvesvaraya Why in News? About Sir Visvesvaraya Aligarh Muslim University was recently in Sir M Visvesvaraya was the 19th Diwan of the news since there was an issue with the Mysore, serving from 1912 to 1919. He ownership of the land on which the was knighted as a Knight Commander of Univesity is situated. the British Indian Empire (KCIE) by Additional Details King George V for his contributions to the Sir Syed Ahmed Khan public good. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was born in Delhi He was awarded the highest Indian honor, (1817). He was one of the most eminent the Bharat Ratna in 1955 and is known as Muslim reformist and philosopher of the the Father of Indian Economic Planning. 19th century. He wrote the books Planned Economy He wrote ‘Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind’ for India, Nation Building: a five year (Reasons for the Indian Revolt of 1857) plan for the provinces and which cited British ignorance and Unemployment in India : it's causes and aggressive expansion policies as the chief cure. causes of the revolt. Achievements In 1864, he founded the Translation Implemented an intricate system of Society which was later renamed ‘The irrigation in the Deccan Plateau, and Scientific Society’ to instill a scientific designed and patented a system of temperament among Muslims in India. automatic weir water floodgates that He was an advocate for modern scientific were first installed in 1903 at education and English for Muslims to Khadakvasla Reservoir near Pune. advance their conditions. He was strictly He was the Chief engineer responsible for against superstition and evil customs the construction of the Krishna Raja prevalent in society. Sagara Dam in Mysore. He instituted All India Muslim Designed a flood protection system for Educational Conference that revived the the city of Hyderabad. spirit of Muslims at the national level. He was instrumental in developing a His interest in religion was also active and system to protect Visakhapatnam port lifelong. He began a sympathetic from sea erosion. interpretation of the Bible, wrote Essays Sir M Visvesvaraya also played a vital role on the Life of Mohammed. in promoting the Kannada language. But he was doubtful about the rise of Why in News? Indian nationalism. He advocated Muslims to have loyalty to the British so Engineer's Day is observed on the 15th of that further upliftment was possible. September every year in India Syed advised the Muslims against joining commemorating the birthday of Bharat active politics and to concentrate instead Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. on education. In 1888, he was made a Knight 2) Aligarh Muslim University Commander of the Star of India by the About AMU British crown. Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College was founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875 in Aligarh, and later it evolved into Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The movement associated with Syed Ahmad Khan and the college came to be known as the Aligarh Movement, which pushed to realise the need for establishing a modern education system for the Indian Muslim populace.
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